NEWSLETTER
From Poland with Love. January
Topic of the Month
Problematic Invitation
Poland has found itself at the center of a complex geopolitical moment after President Karol Nawrocki was invited by U.S. President Donald Trump to participate in a newly launched initiative often referred to as the “Board of Peace.” The invitation, extended at the World Economic Forum in Davos, has triggered lively debate across Warsaw’s political landscape, exposing deep divisions over foreign policy, transatlantic ties, and Warsaw’s role on the global stage.
Trump’s Board of Peace is a controversial new body he unveiled in Davos, designed as a broad conflict-resolution forum with an ostensible focus on the Middle East, particularly Gaza, but with ambitions that extend beyond to other global disputes. The initiative aims to bring together world leaders in a platform that Trump suggests could operate alongside or even complement traditional institutions like the United Nations. Membership in the council — especially permanent status — is tied to substantial financial commitments, reportedly up to USD 1 billion from each participating country.
Poland was among around 60 countries to receive an invitation, reflecting Warsaw’s importance to Washington and Nawrocki’s personal relationship with Trump — the U.S. president actively supported his political rise last year.
But Nawrocki’s invitation quickly sparked a political dilemma at home. Under Polish constitutional law, joining an international organization or treaty requires approval not just from the president but also from the government and ratification by parliament. Prime Minister Donald Tusk made this clear in public statements after the invitation became known, stressing that the government would “be guided exclusively by the interests and security of the Polish state” and that Poland “will not let anyone play us.”
This stance was broadly interpreted as a cautionary message to both Trump and Warsaw’s political base that no formal decision will be made unilaterally by Nawrocki without broad institutional backing.
Despite a tense relationship between the office of the president and Tusk’s government, the two leaders have reportedly held constructive discussions about how to approach the invitation, with Nawrocki acknowledging that any accession must follow constitutional procedures — a position both sides say they presented to Trump with understanding.
Nawrocki did attend the Board of Peace’s ceremonial launch in Davos — making Poland visibly present even though it did not sign the founding charter or formally commit at the event. His participation underscored Warsaw’s interest in sustaining strong ties with Washington while still threading the needle politically at home.
In talks with Trump on the sidelines of the forum, Nawrocki emphasized Poland’s commitment to its alliance with the United States, particularly on security issues. In public comments afterwards, he noted that he would consider Poland’s participation in the Board of Peace if certain security guarantees were strengthened — including a permanent U.S. troop presence on Polish soil rather than the current rotational deployments. He said this point was discussed directly with the U.S. president.
The reaction from Poland’s political actors has been mixed. PiS has been more openly supportive of joining the board, even suggesting that the state allocate funds for a full seat if conditions are right. By contrast, the ruling coalition under Tusk has expressed caution, underscoring that any formal Russian or Belarusian involvement in the initiative complicates Warsaw’s stance.
As discussions continue in Warsaw and with Washington, Poland’s next steps will likely reveal more about how the country perceives its strategic future between Washington and Brussels in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
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Polish political and military circles reacted strongly after Trump suggested in a recent interview that NATO allies’ troops “stayed a little back” from the front lines during the war in Afghanistan — comments widely seen as downplaying allied contributions. President Karol Nawrocki was quick to defend the honour of Polish troops, stressing that Polish soldiers are “heroes” who fought bravely in Afghanistan, where 44 Poles — soldiers and a civilian — lost their lives, and deserve respect and gratitude for their service. Families of fallen soldiers expressed deep pain and called for a formal apology, describing Trump’s words as hurtful and diminishing the sacrifices made under NATO’s Article 5. A retired Polish general likewise condemned the remarks as “absurd,” pointing out that Polish forces operated in dangerous conditions side by side with U.S. and allied units. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador in Warsaw sought to ease tensions by affirming Trump’s respect for Poland’s contributions, calling the Polish commitment to NATO “meaningful, operational, and decisive.”
Trump's recent actions, particularly his weakness for Putin and his remarks about troops in Afghanistan, have led to a marked increase in skepticism toward the U.S. The decline in support for Washington is something that was difficult to imagine until recently. The lack of criticism from PiS and Nawrocki toward the American administration has led to a shift of right-wing voters online from Jarosław Kaczyński's party to the radical Confederation and Crown parties.
Politics
Hungary Grants Asylum to Former Polish Justice Minister
Hungary has granted political asylum to Zbigniew Ziobro, Poland’s former justice minister from PiS, after he left Poland amid a sweeping criminal investigation into alleged abuse of power and misuse of public funds. The move has sharply heightened tensions between Warsaw and Budapest.
Ziobro, who also served as prosecutor general, faces 26 criminal charges in Poland, including accusations that he led an organized criminal group and improperly diverted money from a state victims’ fund, allegedly used in part to purchase Pegasus spyware, for political purposes during his tenure. Polish authorities have stripped him of parliamentary immunity and sought his arrest.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has pledged to prosecute alleged corruption and abuses from the previous PiS administration. Ziobro denies all wrongdoing, calling the charges politically motivated and part of a “witch hunt” against him and other conservative officials. In a statement on social media, Ziobro said he would remain abroad until what he called “genuine guarantees of the rule of law” were restored in Poland and thanked Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for offering protection. Hungarian authorities have said they granted asylum to multiple Poles they consider subject to political persecution, though they have not publicly released names.
Polish leaders have sharply criticised Budapest’s decision. Prime Minister Tusk said seeking asylum abroad amounted to an admission of guilt and defended Poland as a safe, law-abiding country where citizens should face justice at home. Polish ministers have also suggested Hungary’s actions undermine European judicial cooperation and could be challenged at the EU level.
The asylum decision follows a similar case in late 2024 when Hungary granted protection to Marcin Romanowski, a former Polish deputy justice minister also wanted in connection with the Justice Fund investigation (read more in the December 2024 issue). Both incidents have contributed to a diplomatic rift between the two EU and NATO member states, raising broader questions about legal cooperation and political alignments within the bloc.
Recently Anita Orban, a likely future foreign minister if her party Tisza party wins power, criticized Hungary’s current practice of providing shelter to Polish politicians wanted by Warsaw’s authorities. She said that under a TISZA-led government, Hungary would repair the historic Polish-Hungarian friendship and stop letting “wanted criminals hide” in Budapest, signaling a shift away from Viktor Orbán’s approach.
Security
Major Cyberattack on Energy Infrastructure
Poland has successfully defended its energy infrastructure against a significant cyberattack that occurred in late December 2025. The incident, described by government leaders as one of the most serious in recent years, targeted critical systems across the power network but ultimately did not compromise the grid or lead to widespread outages.
According to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the attempted cyberattack was detected and neutralized before it could destabilize the country’s energy supply. The assault focused on a number of power facilities, including two combined heat and power plants and systems managing electricity from renewable sources, but Poland’s defence held firm, preventing any major disruption or blackout.
Tusk emphasized that critical infrastructure was never at risk, and that the cybersecurity systems successfully shielded the energy sector from harm even under intense pressure. Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka characterized the operation as particularly aggressive, marking it as the largest attempted cyberattack on Poland’s power system in years.
While prosecutors have not publicly named specific perpetrators, Polish authorities report strong indications that the attack was linked to groups associated with Russian intelligence services, framing the operation as part of broader hostile activity against Warsaw. Tusk highlighted that the evidence suggests foreign involvement, though he stopped short of definitive attribution.
Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stressed the seriousness of the threat, noting that the disruption could have affected up to 500,000 consumers had it succeeded, especially during winter conditions when reliable heating and electricity are critical.
The government announced plans to bolster cybersecurity efforts further, including new legislation and enhanced protection for critical infrastructure. Tusk urged parliament to expedite cybersecurity legislation to strengthen defenses against future threats and reduce Poland’s vulnerability to foreign interference. Political leaders also highlighted the changing nature of modern conflict, with digital attacks increasingly forming part of broader hybrid strategies aimed at destabilizing states. Poland’s experience underscores the growing importance of robust cyber defence in safeguarding national infrastructure.
International Affairs
Warmth from Poland for Kyiv
The first shipment of power generators from Poland has arrived in the Ukrainian capital, marking a significant boost to the city’s ability to withstand widespread blackouts and freezing temperatures amid intensified Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.
On January 26 130 generators of various capacities reached Kyiv after being purchased with funds raised through a large-scale Polish fundraising initiative. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the equipment was financed by tens of thousands of Polish volunteers who donated roughly PLN 80 million zlotys (nearly EUR 2 million) in just ten days. The “Warmth from Poland for Kyiv” campaign galvanized unprecedented public contributions, reflecting solidarity with Ukrainians coping with the harsh winter and the effects of continued Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.
Klitschko said the newly arrived generators will power critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, community facilities, and residential areas during recurrent outages. The total capacity of the delivered units is approximately 2,376 kW, including larger diesel models capable of supporting multi-story buildings as well as smaller portable units.
Polish support extends beyond this first batch. Officials in Warsaw have confirmed that an additional 90 generators purchased by the city government are on their way. In parallel, the Polish national government is coordinating the delivery of hundreds more generators and heating units from its strategic reserves, responding to urgent humanitarian needs caused by the winter power crisis.
What is more, by the decision of new Kraków Metropolitan Archbishop Grzegorz Ryś (read more in the previous issue), all funds collected in the parishes of the archdiocese under his jurisdiction during Sunday Masses on February 1 will be directed to Kyiv. Ryś noted that he had received a letter from Kyiv’s bishop Sviatoslav who informed about the intensive shelling of Kyiv and the “struggle for life, warmth, and light” in the city. Sviatoslav informed that the greatest need is for large generators and mini-CHP units.
Poland & Germany
AfD Politician Demand Reparations from Poland
A senior member of AfD party has reignited tensions between Warsaw and Berlin after calling on Poland to pay €1.3 billion in reparations for its alleged “complicity” in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The comments, which come from AfD financial spokesman Kay Gottschalk, triggered immediate and strong reactions from Polish politicians across the political spectrum.
Gottschalk’s demand emerged in a social media post responding to a tweet by a Polish MEP, and included a pledge that, should he become Germany’s finance minister, pursuing reparations from Poland would be one of his first official acts. He argued that €1.3 billion would “suffice for the alleged complicity” in the pipeline explosions — a claim based on Warsaw’s refusal to extradite a Ukrainian individual whom Germany had accused of involvement.
Foreign ministry spokespersons in Warsaw reiterated that Poland rejects any notion of responsibility for the Nord Stream destruction and cautioned against politicising legal and security matters. Polish politicians reacted with a mix of disbelief and anger. Labour Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk described Gottschalk’s remarks as “absolutely outrageous,” saying they had no basis in fact and risked inflaming relations between Warsaw and its western neighbour. Krzysztof Bosak, co-leader of the Confederation (some MEPs of Confederation sit with AfD in the one group in the European Parliament), dismissed the idea of compensating Germany, arguing that if Nord Stream were truly a commercial project, it should have been insured — and that Germany now “fantasising about compensation” was absurd.
Polish government has long criticised the Nord Stream pipelines as strategically harmful, contending they increased Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and bypassed Polish and Ukrainian transit routes. However, officials have never suggested that Poland was involved in their destruction.
The reparations demand taps into longstanding historical grievances between Poland and Germany. Some Polish political figures, especially from PiS and the office of President Karol Nawrocki, continue to press Berlin for unresolved World War II reparations — a claim Berlin consistently rejects as legally closed. Gottschalk’s use of the term “reparations” appeared to reference this sensitive issue, amplifying Polish frustration (read more in the November 2025 issue).
PESA Acquires German Tram Maker in Strategic Expansion
PESA Bydgoszcz, Poland’s largest rolling stock manufacturer, has agreed to acquire 100% of German tram and light rail vehicle maker HeiterBlick GmbH, marking a major step in its European growth strategy. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
HeiterBlick, based in Leipzig, had filed for insolvency in April 2025 after facing financial difficulties linked to rising production costs and supply chain disruptions. Under PESA’s ownership, the company’s operations, including its Leipzig manufacturing site and workforce of around 250 employees, will be preserved and supported, helping secure jobs and fulfil existing contracts for tram deliveries in cities such as Leipzig, Würzburg and Dortmund.
PESA, which employs nearly 4 000 people and supplies trams and rail vehicles to more than 20 European cities, said combining forces with HeiterBlick will create “synergies of competencies, technology and market presence,” reinforcing its competitive position across the continent. Both companies will benefit from shared engineering experience and broader production capabilities.
The acquisition also aligns with Team Poland, a national initiative aimed at supporting the international expansion of Polish industry. According to statements from PESA and its backers, the move will strengthen the company’s presence in the German tram market — Europe’s largest — while preserving HeiterBlick’s brand and ongoing projects.
Analysts say the deal not only secures HeiterBlick’s future but also enhances PESA’s strategic position amid growing demand for modern, low-emission urban transport vehicles across European cities.
Economy
Russia Seizes Local Assets of Polish-American Packaging Giant
Under a decree signed by Vladimir Putin Russia has taken control of the local operations of Canpack, a major Polish-American manufacturer of aluminium packaging. Canpack’s Russian subsidiaries were placed under “temporary external management”
by the state-linked company Stalelement.
Canpack, founded in Kraków in 1992 and now part of US-based Giorgi Global Holdings, is one of the world’s largest producers of aluminium beverage cans and packaging solutions. In Russia, its business accounted for roughly 30 % of the domestic aluminium can market.
At the same time, Russian authorities also took control of the local assets of Rockwool, a Danish manufacturer of insulation materials, indicating a broader effort to expand state control over foreign firms deemed to be from “unfriendly” countries. No detailed official explanation has been provided for either takeover.
In response, Canpack released a statement saying it had complied with Russian law for three decades and is now assessing the legal, operational and financial implications of the state takeover. The company said it plans to pursue all avenues to protect its rights and business continuity.
Polish political commentators criticized the decision, noting that companies continuing to operate in Russia amid ongoing geopolitical tensions risk such outcomes.
Poland Fines Zalando and Temu for Misleading Discounts
Poland’s consumer protection authority, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), has imposed significant fines on two major online retailers — Zalando and Temu — for failing to properly inform consumers about discounts and promotions, in violation of Polish and EU pricing rules.
Under regulations derived from the EU Omnibus Directive, online sellers must clearly display the lowest price at which a product was offered in the 30 days prior to a promotion whenever a discount is advertised. This requirement is intended to prevent so-called “false discounts,” where prices are artificially inflated before a sale or where promotions are presented without sufficient context, misleading shoppers about the true scale of savings.
UOKiK found that Zalando often calculated discount percentages based on “regular” or initial prices instead of the lowest 30-day price, making promotions appear more attractive than they actually were. Meanwhile, Temu’s platform did not consistently display the required reference price, and in some cases the lowest price information was missing or inaccurately presented across different product variants.
As a result, UOKiK’s president, Tomasz Chróstny, issued separate decisions issuing fines of nearly PLN 31 million for Zalando and close to PLN 6 million for Temu, totaling almost PLN 37 million (ca. EUR 8,8 million). Both companies now face the possibility of appeal.
UOKiK stressed that transparency in discount presentations is vital for consumer trust and fair competition, and that misleading pricing tactics — such as presenting price increases as bargains — will continue to be scrutinized and penalized. These actions mark some of the first major enforcement measures under the updated discount disclosure rules in Poland and signal heightened regulatory focus on online advertising practices.
Top Travel Destination
Poland is increasingly emerging as a top European travel destination, with global media and travel organisations spotlighting Warsaw and Wrocław for their distinct appeal. In its prestigious “52 Places to Go in 2026” list, the New York Times ranked Warsaw as the world’s #2 must-visit destination, highlighting the city’s dynamic cultural scene and new landmarks such as the Museum of Modern Art as key reasons to explore its evolving identity. Meanwhile, Forbes placed Warsaw at #1 in a ranking of European cities to visit in 2026, emphasising the capital’s modern infrastructure, green space, safety, cultural offerings, gastronomy and vibrant urban life that together make it stand out among other major cities.
The appeal isn’t limited to the capital. Wrocław was included in the Michelin Guide for the first time, with multiple restaurants receiving Bib Gourmand distinctions, reflecting a significant rise in the quality and visibility of Poland’s culinary scene and boosting the city’s tourism credentials. These international accolades are underpinned by broader trends: Poland’s cities have been winning votes and recognition in European destination rankings, foreign media coverage of Polish culture and travel has surged, and tourist arrivals continue rising as global travellers seek destinations that combine history, food, affordability and modern urban experiences.
Together, these developments show why Poland — from Warsaw’s energetic blend of tradition and innovation to Wrocław’s gastronomic breakthroughs — is capturing the imagination of travellers and critics alike.
Society
The Oldest Polish Women Died
Jadwiga Żak-Stewart, recognised as the oldest living Polish person, has died at the age of 113, regional authorities in Łódź announced on 26 January 2026. Born on 15 July 1912 in Warsaw, back then in the Russian Empire, she lived through both world wars, emigrated to the United States during the 1980s where she spent decades in Indianapolis, and after returning to Poland at age 100 chose to spend her final years in her homeland.
Trends & Polls
Party support
IBRiS for Onet.pl, 20-21.01.2026
Civic Coalition 31,2%
PiS 27,3%
Confederation 12,8%
Left 6,8%
Crown 6,6%
PSL 4,9%
Together 2,8%
Poland 2050 1,4%