Author
Aleksander Palikot
Aleksander Palikot is a Kyiv-based journalist covering war and its impact on society, culture, and politics in Eastern Europe. His work has appeared in RFE/RL, New Eastern Europe, Krytyka Polityczna, and other outlets. He serves on the board of n-ost and is a fellow of the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN). He holds degrees from Oxford, Edinburgh, and the Jagiellonian University.
Articles
Who is Nawrocki, Poland's new president, and what could his narrow victory mean for Polish-Ukrainian relations?
In a closely contested presidential runoff, conservative historian Karol Nawrocki has been declared the winner of Poland's 2025 presidential election, securing 50.89% of the vote against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski's 49.11%.
The result marks a significant shift in Polish politics, with consequences for both the domestic and international landscape — particularly in dealings with neighboring Ukraine, fighting off Russia's full-scale invasion.
Divided country
Late on June 1, Trzasko
Ukraine watches closely as Poland faces polarizing presidential run-off
Poland’s presidential race has never seen a first-round winner with so many reasons to worry, the far right so emboldened, and Ukraine so central to the campaign.
The June 1 run-off between Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski of the ruling Civic Platform (PO) and Karol Nawrocki, backed by Law and Justice (PiS), will likely reshape not only Poland’s domestic political balance but also its approach to Ukraine. And the clash will be tight: in a first-round that saw a record 67.3% turnout, Trzaskowski s
