WARSAW, May 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Poland's presidential candidates faced off on Friday in their last state television debate before the runoff election, sparring over domestic politics but also Ukraine and relations with the United States and Europe.

The June 1 runoff is expected to be a tight contest between pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, who is backed by the centrist government and won round one by a narrow margin, and nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki, who is supported by the main right-wing opposition.

The election comes at a fraught moment for Europe, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine drags on and ties with Washington are under strain.

During Friday's debate, Trzaskowski urged voters to "choose a president with experience" while Nawrocki -- an amateur boxer -- said Poland required someone "who is a strong president for tough times".

Nawrocki stressed his good relationship with US President Donald Trump, whom he visited at the White House earlier this month.

But Trzaskowski, who is a former deputy foreign minister, charged Nawrocki with a lack of political experience on the international arena.

Trzaskowski also accused him of "using language that is in line with... Russian propaganda", giving the example of Nawrocki's stance against NATO membership for Ukraine.

Nawrocki fired back that when Ukrainian President Volodymyr "Zelensky treats us poorly, we have the right to say it. And millions of Poles would like to".

Nawrocki reminded viewers that he was on Russia's wanted list for his alleged efforts to remove Soviet-era monuments in Poland.

The debate was divided into six topics, including foreign policy, healthcare, the economy and security.

An overall victory for Trzaskowski in the election would be a boost for the government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk since 2023.

The former EU leader's government has been at loggerheads with the current nationalist president, Andrzej Duda.

A win for Nawrocki would probably extend the political deadlock in the Central European country of 38 million people.