Zelensky’s Poland Visit Was ‘First-Rate’ Move to Reset Ties, Veteran Top US Diplomat Says

Zelensky met Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Lublin on Wednesday, following weeks of heightened friction over historical memory, bilateral political disputes and the treatment of Ukrainians in Poland. Their talks covered defense cooperation, historical grievances and the security of Ukrainian refugees, but the broader message was unmistakable: Poland and Ukraine cannot afford to let disputes over the past weaken their ability to confront the Russian threat they face today.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. For Fried, who served as US ambassador to Poland from 1997 to 2000 and later as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, the meeting marked an important shift back toward strategic realism. “It was an excellent step,” Fried said. “This was a first-rate, wise move by President Zelensky, and I suspect that there have been productive contacts between Poles and Ukrainians.” ‘Fights about history could go on forever’ Relations between Warsaw and Kyiv had deteriorated sharply in recent weeks as painful disputes rooted in 20th-century history again moved to the center of political debate. The tensions became serious enough for Tusk to warn publicly that the worsening quarrel “pleases Putin and shocks our allies,” while insisting that Poland’s fundamental security interest remains tied to Ukraine’s ability to resist Russia. Zelensky responded with a five-point roadmap aimed at repairing relations, including deeper diplomatic engagement, broader archival access, continued exhumations and expanded historical research. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine to End VAT Exemption on Imported Goods Bought via Foreign Marketplaces Ukraine’s government says the change would align Ukraine with EU rules, although the new tax regime would not start before 2027. Tusk welcomed the initiative, saying Warsaw was ready for a “serious and friendly dialogue” on the issues that unite and divide the two countries. Fried said the Lublin meeting marked a shift back toward practical cooperation. “Those who are interested in working together against the common threat of Russia, and those constructive forces in both governments, finally have taken the initiative back from those who are interested in merely relitigating fights of the past,” he said. “Fights about history could go on forever, and they will advantage no one except Russia.” Fried: Zelensky, Tusk ‘Pointed in the Right Direction’ Former US diplomat said Zelensky and Tusk were right to put their countries’ future security ahead of nationalist pressure to keep reopening old wounds. “This is a terrific move,” he said. “Both leaders were clearly pointed in the right direction.” Security pushes Warsaw and Kyiv back together Zelensky and Tusk discussed deeper defense cooperation as Russia continues large-scale missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. The meeting came immediately after Zelensky’s talks in Washington with US President Donald Trump, where Ukraine pressed for additional anti-ballistic capabilities and movement toward domestic production of Patriot interceptors. Warsaw is one of Ukraine’s most important logistical partners, a frontline NATO state and a country whose own security would deteriorate sharply if Russia were allowed to achieve its objectives in Ukraine. Fried said influential Polish officials have understood this from the beginning. He pointed in particular to Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who has consistently argued that Polish security requires a strong Ukraine and sustained pressure on the Kremlin. According to Fried, policymakers such as Sikorski recognize that “a Polish-Ukrainian fight is in nobody’s interest except the Kremlin.” Moscow benefits whenever mistrust weakens military cooperation, erodes Polish support for Ukraine or redirects attention from Russia’s aggression toward hostility between Ukrainians and Poles. “The future of both countries is better if Ukraine succeeds,” Fried concluded. Sevinj OsmanqiziSevinj Osmanqizi is an experienced journalist who writes extensively for Kyiv Post on foreign policy, international security and geopolitics. Based in Washington, D.C., her work focuses on Ukraine, Russia’s war and the broader post-Soviet space.