Former Polish president and iconic Solidarity leader Lech Walesa has joined 39 former political prisoners in denouncing former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent confrontation with Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In an open letter, Walesa and his co-signers expressed their "horror" at Trump’s remarks, which they described as offensive and reminiscent of authoritarian interrogations.
The letter, posted on Walesa’s Facebook page on Monday, was a direct response to a tense meeting last Friday in which Trump publicly criticized Zelenskiy. During the extraordinary exchange, Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of being ungrateful for U.S. military aid, disrespecting the United States, and even risking a global conflict. The heated discussion raised concerns about Washington's continued support for Kyiv as it battles Russia’s ongoing invasion.
“We watched your conversation with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy with horror and distaste,” the letter read. “Your expectations of gratitude and deference for U.S. assistance in Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression are deeply offensive.”
The signatories stressed that the true gratitude belongs to Ukrainian soldiers who are risking their lives to uphold the values of the free world.
Comparing Trump’s treatment of Zelenskiy to Communist-Era repression
The letter went further, drawing a stark parallel between Trump’s rhetoric and the oppressive tactics used by Communist-era security forces. “The atmosphere of this meeting was akin to interrogations by the Security Service and trials in communist courts,” the letter stated.
Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance, aggressively confronted Zelenskiy during the meeting, reportedly leading to the Ukrainian president being asked to leave. The fallout has driven U.S.-Ukraine relations to a new low, despite Ukraine’s dependence on American support in its war against Russia.
Calls for the U.S. to uphold security commitments
Walesa and his fellow signatories also reminded the U.S. of its security commitments to Ukraine, referencing the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in which Ukraine surrendered its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from the United States and other Western powers.
“These guarantees are unconditional,” the letter emphasized. “Nowhere does it state that such assistance should be treated as an economic transaction.”
Political reactions and White House silence
The letter has sparked international attention, but the White House has yet to issue an official response. The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw referred questions to the White House press office, which did not immediately comment.
Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda suggested on Saturday that Zelenskiy should return to the negotiating table with the U.S. to resolve tensions.
This latest diplomatic rift underscores the fragile state of U.S.-Ukraine relations and raises further concerns about the West’s long-term commitment to supporting Kyiv in its struggle against Russian aggression. Photo by Jarle Vines, Wikimedia commons.