The former Polish president's letter expressed "fear and distaste" regarding Trump and Zelenskyy's contentious White House meeting on Feb. 28, 2025.

Wałęsa, who served as president soon after Poland embraced democracy, and the others tell Trump that they found it offensive that he expected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to show respect and gratitude for the material assistance the United States has given Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion.

The letter comes amid heightened tensions in U.S.-Ukraine relations as Washington debates continued military aid to Kyiv.

Former Polish President Lech Walesa, who won the Nobel prize for pro-democracy efforts, critically panned Trump's treatment of Zelenskyy at the White House.

Nobel Peace Prize-winner Lech Walesa posted the letter, which was signed by 39 Polish former political prisoners, on Facebook on Monday.

He and former Polish political prisoners voiced “horror and disgust” at President Trump’s scolding of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine last week, saying it reminded them of encounters with bullying Communist-era officials.

Lech Walesa and dozens of other former political prisoners in Poland have written a letter to President Trump, stating they found his behavior toward Zelensky offensive.

In an extraordinary meeting that was broadcast live on Friday, Trump accused Zelenskiy of being ungrateful for U.S. aid, of showing disrespect to his country and of risking World

Lech Wałęsa, former Polish president and leader of the Solidarity movement, along with 39 other former Polish political prisoners, has written a letter to US President Donald Trump expressing their "concern" over the atmosphere of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.