Russia attacks Polish President Karol Nawrocki over Ukraine stance

The Kremlin has launched a sharp verbal attack against Polish President Karol Nawrocki following his speech marking the first anniversary of his inauguration. During the address, Nawrocki stated that it is in Poland's strategic interest for Ukraine and its soldiers to successfully combat the post-Soviet Russian Federation to keep the conflict away from Polish borders. He also remarked, "where a Moskal is being fought, there Poland helps," even if not through direct military involvement.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded by accusing Nawrocki of "clinical Russophobia" and using "hate speech," specifically citing his use of the term "Moskal." She disparagingly referred to him as a "Gdańsk museum curator," a reference to his former role at the Museum of the Second World War, and suggested his views are driven by an irrational fear of Russia.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski defended the President, rejecting the label of "Russophobia." In a response on social media, Sikorski cited his own address to the UN Security Council, arguing that fearing Russian threats is rational given the frequent nuclear rhetoric from Russian leadership and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. He noted that "when Russia threatens us, we believe those threats."