Polish President Karol Nawrocki has cancelled his planned meeting with Viktor Orbán due to the Hungarian Prime Minister's visit to Moscow, the head of the Polish president's foreign policy office said on Sunday. Marcin Przydacz indicated that the Polish head of state "continues to support finding real ways for ending the war in Ukraine," adding that Russia alone is responsible for the war.
Przydacz said that due to Viktor Orbán's trip to Moscow "and its context," Nawrocki had decided to limit the program of his upcoming visit to Hungary to the summit of the Visegrád Four in Esztergom. The Polish president will discuss the security situation and cooperation in the Central European region with the Czech, Slovak, and Hungarian heads of state, Przydacz wrote.
Tomasz Słomka, professor of political science at the University of Warsaw, told Polish TV24 that this decision shows Nawrocki is establishing his political independence. He noted that this is in line with the Polish government's position, which is limiting its relations with Viktor Orbán. At the same time, it is consistent with what the Polish president has maintained about his relationship with Russia, Słomka said, adding that Nawrocki is on the list of people who are particularly disliked by Moscow.
Conservative Karol Nawrocki won the Polish presidential election in early June, after which the Hungarian government congratulated him on his victory. "A great victory for Poland, a great victory for the Visegrad cooperation!" wrote Viktor Orbán then, while Péter Szijjártó said, "Another patriotic victory: congratulations to Karol Nawrocki! Poland and Hungary are two good friends."
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