Presidents Zelensky and Nawrocki met again today for around an hour on the sidelines of the NATO summit. Nawrocki said it was a "constructive" meeting and, while they had "failed to resolve historical issues", both countries regard "Russia as the main threat"

As Europe's heatwave heads east, temperatures rose above 35°C in parts of Poland today. The town of Słubice, on the border with Germany, hit 38°C at 6 p.m. Tomorrow is forecast to be even hotter, with temperatures potentially reaching 41-42°C in western Poland

President Zelensky has responded to being stripped of Poland's highest honour by announcing that he is posting it back to President Nawrocki. "I believe the future will confirm the respect Ukrainians deserve," he writes

Polish prosecutors have charged a 36-year-old Georgian citizen, named only as Elnur A., with the murder of Russian dissident Semyon Skrepetsky, who was shot near his home in Poland on Monday. For more, see our report from Thursday, when the suspect was detained: notesfrompoland.com/2026/06/18/p...

Two thirds of Poles (65.3%) say that Volodymr Zelensky's decision to name a military unit after the "heroes of the UPA" negatively influences their perception of Polish-Ukrainian relations; 15% say it does not; and 19.7% have no opinion. SW Research poll for Onet: wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/polacy-...

Warsaw's ban on nighttime sales of alcohol went into force today. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., shops and petrol stations are prohibited from selling alcohol, but restaurants, bars and nightclubs can continue to do so. For more, see our earlier report: notesfrompoland.com/2026/03/12/w...

Estonian slackliner Jaan Roose today walked across a wire, 180 metres up in the air, between Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science and Varso Tower, which is the tallest building in the European Union. Photo: Red Bull (press materials)

Poland's foreign minister Radosław Sikorski is among the various international politicians - and many Israeli ones - who have criticised Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for the video he shared showing him taunting detained activists from the Gaza aid flotilla

The proportion of people in Poland who say they are financially comfortable has risen to a record high of 39%. That is up from 27% in 2023 and just 3% in 1993. For more on the findings, read our full report: notesfrompoland.com/2026/04/28/r...

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk celebrates the outcome of today's election in Hungary, where Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat to Péter Magyar

A large wooden cross in Warsaw, under which Polish Pope John Paul II famously celebrated mass in 1979, has been destroyed in a fire. Preliminary findings indicate the fire, which took place on Good Friday, was caused by candles placed beneath the cross. polskieradio24.pl/artykul/3669...

President Nawrocki has signed into law two bills cutting VAT and excise duty on motor fuels and introducing maximum retail prices. The measures were proposed by the government yesterday, quickly pushed through parliament today, then signed by Nawrocki while on a flight to the US.

Bożenka the one-eyes manul is now safely back at Poznań Zoo, which says she is in good condition and "looks like she's just been on a weekend city break, not an unplanned escapade"

A one-eyed manul wild cat called Bożenka has escaped from Poznań Zoo, which suspects she was "deliberately released by an unknown perpetrator". They urge anyone who spots Bożenka - who "avoids contact with people but can defend herself in stressful situations" - to call the zoo and not approach her

Poland's unemployment rate rose to 6% in January, up from 5.4% a year earlier and its highest level since September 2021.

A poll (tinyurl.com/jy9c8yyy) finds that 61% of respondents support the government's plan to end prison sentences for the crime of "offending religious feelings". The idea even has support among almost half of opposition voters. For more on the plan, see our earlier report: tinyurl.com/4rz2p4mj

Asked what they think of how the speaker of parliament refused to support Donald Trump's Nobel Peace Prize nomination, 44% of Poles say they view it positively and 23% negatively; 17% don't know and 16% have not heard about the issue. SW Research poll for @rp.pl

Poland’s demographic decline accelerated further in 2025, as the country recorded around 168,000 more deaths than births. It was the 13th year in a row that more people have died than been born in the country. For more, read our full report here: bit.ly/3ZbxbVu

Poland's economy grew by 3.6% last year, according to preliminary figures from state statistical agency Statistics Poland (GUS). GUS notes that Poland was the "growth leader" among major EU economies in 2025, with Malta and Ireland the only member states to see stronger growth.

Russians regard Poland and Lithuania as their greatest enemies among a list of 12 countries (not including Ukraine) presented to them in a survey by the Levada Center published this week. For more on the findings, read our report here: bit.ly/46lFIZE

Poland's foreign minister Radosław Sikorski, who Elon Musk once called a "small man", has suggested Musk's Starlink satellite internet service is "making money on war crimes" because it is being used by Russia to support drone strikes on Ukraine.

The US ambassador to Poland says that President Trump has "deep respect for Poland's sacrifice and unwavering commitment to NATO", including during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also expressed appreciation for "Poland's great leaders", President Nawrocki and Prime Minister Tusk.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warns Europe that "appeasement is always a sign of weakness" and "means only humiliation".

President Nawrocki has continued his predecessor Andrzej Duda's tradition of inviting exiled Belarusian opposition figures to the presidential palace at the start of the new year. "Poland will never abandon you on this long, difficult path to independence and sovereignty," he told them.

Temperatures plummeted in Poland today, with the city of Łódź recording -15.8°C at 8 a.m. Even Hel, on Poland's northern Baltic coast, has frozen over, at -1.5°C.

Renewables generated 29.4% of Poland's electricity in 2025, almost exactly the same figure as in 2024, ending a period of strong growth since 2021. Coal remained the dominant source, though its share declined from 56.6% to 52.2%. For more, read our full report: bit.ly/4aHvkP4.

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Poland's central bank has cut its key interest rate by another 25 basis points to 4%, the lowest level since March 2022. This marks the sixth rate cut this year, reflecting a response to slowing inflation.

Poland’s core inflation – a measure that excludes the most volatile categories, such as food and fuel – slowed to 3% in October, its lowest level since 2019. For more, read our report here: notesfrompoland.com/2025/11/18/c...

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