Lech Walesa, the former Polish president and leader of the Solidarity trade union that played a leading role in the fall of communism, signed a letter to US President Donald Trump. In it, he expresses his 'horror' at his dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner posted the text of the letter, signed by 39 Polish former political prisoners, on Facebook, Reuters reports.

At the emergency meeting, which was broadcast live on February 28, Trump accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for U.S. aid, of showing disrespect to his country and of risking World War III. In doing so, he cast doubt on Washington's continued support for Ukraine in its three-year war with Russia.

"We watched your conversation with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky with dismay and distaste. We find your expectations regarding the show of respect and gratitude for the material assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine in its struggle with Russia offensive," the letter said.

"Gratitude is owed to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who shed their blood in defense of the values of the free world," it added.

Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance lashed out at Zelensky during the meeting, bringing relations with Kiev's most important military ally to a new low. The Ukrainian president was told to leave, a US official said.

The letter, signed by Valens, compares the atmosphere during the meeting to that of "interrogations in the Security Service and communist courts".

It also called on the United States to implement security guarantees given to Ukraine in 1994 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"These assurances are unconditional: there is not a word in them about treating this aid as an economic exchange," the letter said.

After a heated exchange of remarks at the White House, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in a show of support for Zelensky, assured Ukrainians that they were "not alone."

On 1 March, Poland's current president Andrzej Duda said that Zelensky should return to negotiations with the US. | BGNES