Former Polish president and Solidarity trade union leader Lech Walesa, along with 39 Polish former political prisoners, expressed dismay over President Donald Trump’s contentious exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The letter, shared on Facebook, criticized Trump’s accusations against Zelenskyy during a live broadcast meeting, where Trump questioned Ukraine’s gratitude for U.S. aid and implied a wavering commitment to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The letter highlighted the sacrifices of Ukrainian soldiers and condemned Trump’s expectations of gratitude as offensive. Walesa likened the meeting’s atmosphere to oppressive interrogations under communist rule and urged the U.S. to honor its security guarantees to Ukraine dating back to 1994. The letter emphasized that these guarantees are unconditional and not subject to economic considerations. The incident strained relations between the U.S. and Ukraine, with Vice President JD Vance also criticizing Zelenskyy. The U.S. embassy in Warsaw deferred inquiries to the White House press office, which remained silent on the matter. Poland’s current president, Andrzej Duda, called for a return to negotiations between Zelenskyy and the U.S., underscoring the importance of diplomatic engagement in resolving international conflicts. The letter from Walesa and fellow signatories underscored the significance of recognizing and honoring the contributions and sacrifices made by Ukrainian soldiers in defending shared values of freedom and democracy.