Aligned Polish president – DW – 12/19/2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in Warsaw on Friday, December 19, 2025. Nawrocki, a right-wing populist, has the backing of former US President Trump.

The meeting occurs as the EU agrees to provide a €90 billion ($105 billion) loan to Ukraine.

• Key Points:**
• Zelenskyy seeks to reinforce support from a key ally during a crucial time.
• Putin claims Ukraine is showing no readiness for peace.
• The EU has agreed to a €90 billion loan for Ukraine.

Ursula von der Leyen, the EU chief, stated that Ukraine would only need to repay the interest-free loan once it starts receiving reparations.

During a press conference after meeting Zelenskyy, President Nawrocki emphasized the unity between Poland and Ukraine, which he framed as unwelcome news for Russia. He voiced optimism regarding a potential exchange involving Polish MiG-29 fighter jets for Ukrainian anti-drone technology.

Zelenskyy stated that defending Ukraine equates to defending Poland. He extended an invitation to Nawrocki to visit Kyiv. Nawrocki has not yet visited Ukraine since assuming office earlier in the year.

Putin addressed the EU's decision to not use seized Russian assets to support Ukraine, calling it theft. He argued that using frozen Russian assets to finance the Ukraine loan would be robbery and would undermine trust in the Eurozone.

According to Ukrainian security authorities, a tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet" was hit in the Mediterranean Sea, more than 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine. The SBU security service official called it a new and unprecedented special operation. The tanker, named Qendil, was reportedly empty at the time of the attack. Verification of this report is still pending.

Ukraine has received the remains of 1,003 deceased individuals, claimed by Russia to be Ukrainian soldiers. In exchange, Russia received the remains of 26 Russian soldiers, confirmed by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky. The exchange of remains represents one of the few remaining areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Prior to the meeting, Nawrocki stated the need for Poland to be treated as a partner by Ukraine, despite Poland's support. He noted a cooling in Polish-Ukrainian relations, even though his predecessor supported Kyiv due to their shared opposition to Russia.

Putin stated that Russia is ready to end the conflict but sees no readiness from Ukraine for peace talks. He continues to push for annexation of Ukrainian land as a prerequisite for peace talks and claimed Russian troops are advancing along the entire line of contact.