Former Polish president and iconic leader of the Solidarity movement, Lech Wałęsa, alongside 38 former Polish political prisoners, has voiced his "appall and displeasure" over the manner in which U.S. President Donald Trump treated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their recent meeting at the White House.
In an open letter addressed to Trump, the signatories described as "insulting" the expectation that Ukraine should express gratitude for the material aid provided by the United States in its fight against Russian aggression. They emphasized that "thanks should be directed to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who have shed blood in defense of free world values. They are the ones dying on the front lines."
The letter also highlighted concerns about the atmosphere during the Oval Office discussion, which reminded them of the interrogations they endured at the hands of communist security services. "Prosecutors and judges, acting on behalf of the all-powerful communist political police, used to tell us they had all the power while we had none," they noted. "It is shocking to see President Volodymyr Zelensky treated in a similar manner."
Wałęsa, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his advocacy for workers' rights and universal freedoms, shared the letter on his Facebook page, accompanied by a photo of himself with Trump. Among the other prominent signatories are Adam Michnik, Bogdan Lis, Seweryn Blumsztajn, and Władysław Frasyniuk, all of whom were democracy activists imprisoned by the Moscow-backed communist regime in Poland before 1989.
The letter also calls on the United States to honor the commitments made alongside the United Kingdom in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which obligated the defense of Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for its renunciation of nuclear weapons. The signatories stress that "these guarantees are unconditional; at no point is there mention of this assistance as an economic transaction."
This statement comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Kyiv. The White House has demanded that Zelensky be more open to potential concessions to end the fighting, yet the Ukrainian president has resisted signing any agreement that does not offer lasting peace guarantees, while continuing to seek greater security assurances from Washington.
Wałęsa and the other signatories express profound concern over the situation in Ukraine, directly criticizing the Trump administration's policy toward the country. Their call to acknowledge and honor the sacrifices of Ukrainian soldiers resonates as a reminder of the democratic and freedom values they themselves defended in their struggle against Poland's communist regime.
Key Issues in U.S.-Ukraine Relations
What concerns did Lech Wałęsa express about Trump's treatment of Zelensky?
Lech Wałęsa and other former Polish political prisoners expressed "appall and displeasure" over Trump's treatment of Zelensky, criticizing it as insulting and reminiscent of interrogations by communist security services.
What is the 1994 Budapest Memorandum?
The Budapest Memorandum is an agreement signed in 1994 in which Ukraine renounced its nuclear weapons in exchange for commitments from the United States and the United Kingdom to defend its territorial integrity.
Why is Wałęsa's letter significant?
The letter is significant because it underscores the criticism from historical figures in Poland's fight for democracy, highlighting concerns over the U.S. approach to Ukraine and calling for recognition of Ukrainian soldiers' sacrifices.