Polish president not invited to Ukraine Recovery Conference

Marcin Przydacz, Head of the International Policy Bureau of the Polish President, announced that President Karol Nawrocki has not been invited to the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which will take place in Gdańsk this week. Przydacz stated that Nawrocki therefore does not intend to attend the event.

The conference, scheduled for June 25 and 26, will gather leaders of countries supporting Ukraine, as well as ministers, investors, and business representatives interested in investing in Ukraine's recovery. When asked about Nawrocki's possible participation, Przydacz said that no invitation had been received. He added that, to his knowledge, invitations to foreign partners were sent jointly by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"The president was not invited, therefore... he does not intend to attend an event to which he was not invited by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. None of the officials subordinate to him intend to go there either, due to the lack of invitations," Przydacz said. He also expressed hope that during this year's event, Tusk would focus on "Poland's interests rather than solely on raising funds for Volodymyr Zelenskyy."

This statement follows Nawrocki's decision on the evening of June 19 to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle over the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Nawrocki said Poland would not allow EU accession for those who do not understand the need to renounce the "cult of totalitarianism and violence." Following that decision, several current and former Ukrainian officials announced they would return their Polish honors.

Questions have also been raised about whether Zelenskyy will attend this year's Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk. Zelenskyy has suggested that the decision to strip him of the Order of the White Eagle is connected to internal political rivalry in Poland and efforts to stir up anti-Ukrainian sentiment.