Wałkuski attended the event on Tuesday alongside a group of American journalists, representatives of global news agencies, reporters from influential media outlets and fellow members of the White House press corps, Polish Radio said in a statement.
He was one of only a few journalists from outside America and the only one from Poland to get an invitation, according to the statement.
Wałkuski has served as a White House correspondent for several years and is well known to Biden’s press team and to the president himself, Polish Radio said.
“Still, it was a very nice moment because such an invitation is a great honour,” Wałkuski said.
'They called me Joe Bidenski'
Wałkuski, who attended the White House Christmas press party with his wife Edyta, managed to shake hands and exchange a few words with the president.
He said Biden gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
Wałkuski added: “I thanked President Biden for supporting Ukraine and Poland. He smiled and said: ‘Hey, man! Do you know that in my home state they called me Joe Bidenski?’”
US national security advisor praises Poland
Wałkuski says he also talked to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who “expressed admiration for how Poland has welcomed refugees from Ukraine and for the country's role in supporting Ukraine.”
Wałkuski has been Polish Radio’s Washington correspondent since 2002. Over the years, he has published three bestselling books about America.
Since 2018, he has been a full-fledged member of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), Polish Radio said.
Poland has taken in 8.4 million refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Border Guard agency reported on Thursday.
A Polish deputy prime minister said last week that his country was "currently home to more than 2 million Ukrainians" after many who had fled Russia's invasion moved on to other countries or decided to return to Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: Polish Radio