Former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa has voiced strong disapproval of Donald Trump’s handling of his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Wałęsa, alongside over 30 former Polish political prisoners, signed a letter condemning what they described as an “insulting” demand for gratitude from Ukraine amid its ongoing battle for sovereignty.
The letter, addressed to Trump, expressed “horror and distaste” at the way Zelenskyy was treated.
According to Wałęsa and the signatories, the atmosphere in the Oval Office was reminiscent of interrogations conducted by Poland’s communist-era secret services.
They emphasized that such treatment was unacceptable, particularly toward a leader representing a nation fighting for freedom.
Wałęsa, a key figure in Poland’s democratic transition, drew parallels between Trump’s approach and oppressive tactics used in the past.
“The atmosphere in the Oval Office reminded us of that which we remember well from interrogations by Poland’s communist secret services and regime courts,” the letter stated.
“The prosecutors and the judges, working on behalf of the omnipotent Communist party police, also told us that they held all the cards, and we held none.”
The signatories were particularly unsettled by the way Zelenskyy was asked to express gratitude for U.S. aid, stating that true appreciation should be directed toward the Ukrainian soldiers risking their lives daily.
“Gratitude is owed to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who have been shedding their blood for over 11 years to defend the free world’s values and their homeland, attacked by Putin’s Russia,” Wałęsa wrote.
The letter highlighted the historical role of the United States in upholding democratic values worldwide.
Wałęsa referenced key moments in history where U.S. intervention was crucial, including World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.
He pointed out that without U.S. support, the fall of the Soviet Union might not have been possible.
“Without President Reagan and U.S. financial support, the Soviet empire’s collapse would not have been possible,” the letter stated.
Moreover, the signatories called on the U.S. to remain steadfast in its commitments, particularly under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
This agreement guaranteed Ukraine’s territorial integrity in exchange for surrendering its nuclear weapons. They stressed that these obligations were unconditional and should not be treated as a transactional arrangement.
Wałęsa’s letter suggested that Trump’s handling of the meeting could have been approached differently.
Instead of making demands, the U.S. could have reaffirmed its support for Ukraine in a more diplomatic and respectful manner.
The letter highlighted the need for strong alliances rather than interactions that could be perceived as condescending.
Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Warsaw declined to comment on the matter, directing inquiries to the White House.
The White House press office has yet to issue an official response.
