Kwaśniewski criticized recent remarks made by Karol Nawrocki, the presidential candidate backed by Poland’s right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, calling his stance “the most idiotic idea imaginable.”
The comments came during the 17th edition of the Forum, held in the Baltic seaside city of Świnoujście in northwestern Poland.
Former Agriculture Minister Artur Balazs joined in the criticism, saying that any presidential hopeful who opposes Ukraine’s NATO accession is “disqualifying himself” and contributing to regional instability.
“It’s as if we are actively undermining our own security by following Putin’s script,” he said.
Their remarks referred to Nawrocki’s recent endorsement of a nationalist platform presented by Sławomir Mentzen, leader of the far-right Confederation party.
Among the pledges Nawrocki supported was a vow not to sign any legislation ratifying Ukraine’s entry into NATO if elected.
On the left: Aleksander Kwaśniewski. On the right: Artur Balzas. Photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki
Ukraine’s EU accession still possible despite war, says Kwaśniewski
Kwaśniewski and Balazs both underscored the importance of political unity in Ukraine, drawing parallels to Poland’s own cross-party consensus during its accession to the European Union and NATO.
Balazs also warned that Ukraine’s massive agricultural potential could pose a challenge to the EU’s farming sector unless its integration is carefully managed.
Speaking on the future of Ukraine’s EU bid, Kwaśniewski recalled that in 2007–2008, the year 2020 had been floated as a possible accession date. He urged that ongoing negotiations be handled “more efficiently, more quickly,” while acknowledging the uncertain timeline.
“I can’t say whether it will take five years or seven,” he admitted.
Kwaśniewski argued that the accession process could proceed even without Ukraine having full control of its territory, pointing to Cyprus - part of which remains under Turkish occupation - as a legal precedent.
“It’s hard to compare Cyprus with Ukraine,” he said, “but for now, it’s the only realistic scenario.”
Baltic Business Forum tackles future of Europe’s East
The Baltic Business Forum, now in its 17th year, serves as a high-level platform for dialogue between political leaders and business executives from across Central and Eastern Europe.
Organized by the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (PUIG) and the Europa-North-East Institute (ENEIA), this year’s edition focused heavily on Ukraine’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.
Among the speakers was Paweł Kowal, chairman of Poland’s Council for Cooperation with Ukraine.
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Source: PAP/X/@rada_plua