WARSAW

Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on Monday, triggering criticism from Poland’s pro-EU government, which warned the visit risks undermining European unity and benefiting Russia.

The meeting between the two nationalist, Eurosceptic leaders took place behind closed doors and was not followed by any joint press conference or public statement, Polish broadcaster RMF FM reported.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the visit as “a fatal mistake and confirmation of a dangerous strategy to weaken the EU and strengthen Putin,” as tensions between Poland’s presidency and government again came into view.

Criticism intensified over the weekend after news emerged that Nawrocki would travel to Budapest on Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day, an annual event marking historical ties between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski questioned the rationale behind the visit, pointing to Orban’s stance on Russia. “I’d like to know what Poland’s interest is in supporting the most corrupt and pro-Putin politician in Europe,” Sikorski said, referring to the Hungarian leader’s repeated blocking of EU sanctions on Moscow.

Government figures also suggested the visit could be interpreted as indirect support for Orban’s ruling Fidesz party ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for next month.

Nawrocki did not publicly endorse Orban during his visit.

Earlier in the day, speaking alongside Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok in Poland, Nawrocki stressed that Warsaw and Budapest do not align on all issues. “For Poland, Vladimir Putin and Russia pose an existential threat,” he said. “Poles love Hungarians and hate Vladimir Putin, who is a war criminal and nothing more.”

The remarks appeared aimed at distancing himself from Orban’s more conciliatory approach toward Moscow.

At the same time, Nawrocki noted areas of alignment with Hungary, including opposition to certain EU climate and migration policies.

Relations between Poland and Hungary — once close allies within the EU — have cooled since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Poland has become one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters, while Hungary has repeatedly clashed with Brussels over sanctions on Russia.

Nawrocki himself had previously cancelled a planned meeting with Orban last year after the Hungarian leader traveled to Moscow.

Nawrocki is aligned with the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023 and traditionally maintained close ties with Orban’s Fidesz.

Those relations were strained after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, but have recently shown signs of recovery.

The visit highlights ongoing divisions within Poland’s leadership: the government seeks to reinforce ties with Brussels, while the presidency signals openness to cooperation with like-minded conservative governments in Central Europe.