Zelensky Returns Poland's Highest Honor
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he has returned Poland's highest honor following a decision by his Polish counterpart, Karol Nawrocki, to strip him of the award.
The Polish Order of the White Eagle was awarded to Zelensky in 2023 by then-President Andrzej Duda.
Controversy Over Ukrainian Army Unit Naming
The situation escalated after Kyiv renamed a Ukrainian army unit in honor of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group with a controversial history from World War Two. This move provoked outrage in Poland last month.
In response, three senior Ukrainian officials also declared they would return awards given by Poland as a gesture of solidarity with President Zelensky.
Historical Perspectives on the UPA
Within Ukraine, many view the UPA, which operated during the 1940s and 1950s, as heroes who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Soviet Red Army, Nazi Germany, and Polish authorities. The red and black flag of the UPA is frequently displayed by Ukrainian troops on the front lines today.
Conversely, Poland accuses the UPA of perpetrating genocide against approximately 100,000 ethnic Poles in the Volhynia region (now Volyn in Ukraine) between 1943 and 1945.
Zelensky's Statement on Relations with Poland
Addressing the situation on social media, Zelensky emphasized Ukraine's commitment to maintaining constructive relations with Poland.
"Ukraine would remain open to all meaningful formats of engagement with Poland in order to try to avoid conflicting interpretations of the difficult and painful chapters of our shared past."
"We are grateful to the Polish People for their support and co-operation."
Poland's Role as an Ally
Poland has been a key ally to Ukraine during the ongoing war against Russia, hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees and serving as a logistics hub for aid to Ukraine.
Polish President's Reaction
Polish President Karol Nawrocki described Ukraine's decision to name the army unit after the UPA as "outrageous," "incomprehensible," and "deeply disappointing."
"For the overwhelming majority of Polish society, the UPA remains, above all, a formation responsible for the brutal crimes committed against citizens of the Republic of Poland during World War Two," Nawrocki stated in a video posted on the president's official website.
"It hurts not only our historical memory. It also undermines the trust built up over the years and in recent months," he added.
Despite the diplomatic tensions, Nawrocki assured that Poland's support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia would remain unchanged.
Calls for Calm from Polish Leadership
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk weighed in on social media, warning that any discord between Poland and Ukraine would be welcomed by Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
"Any feud between us delights Vladimir Putin," Tusk said, urging both Zelensky and Nawrocki to "calm emotions, not to stoke tensions."
Ukraine's EU Ambitions
Amid these developments, Ukraine continues to pursue integration with the European Union, having participated in the first phase of membership negotiations this week in Luxembourg.
