Nauseda's view on Ukraine's EU membership stands out - Polish president in Vilnius

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's view on Ukraine's EU integration stands out, Polish President Karol Nawrocki said on Monday during his visit to Vilnius.

Nauseda has repeatedly called for January 1, 2030 to be set as the specific date for Kyiv's EU membership.

Nawrocki, on the other hand, takes a more moderate view of Ukraine's possible accession to the bloc. The Polish president has also recently blocked a bill proposed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government to extend the rights of Ukrainian refugees and opposed Ukraine's desire to become a member of NATO.

"The president and I have slightly different views on Ukraine's integration into the EU. Our discussions will continue at another level. (...) I do not rule out the possibility of full solidarity with Ukraine, but this is a matter between Poland and Ukraine," Nawrockis said at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius.

As BNS reported earlier, shortly after Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv expressed its desire to join the EU. However, membership negotiations are currently stalled because Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is vetoing the process.

Hungary says that Ukraine's EU membership would pose security risks and that accepting a country at war would draw Budapest into conflict with Russia.