Ukraine Returns Polish Honor Amid Controversy
WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has returned Poland’s highest state honor amid a politically charged dispute over World War II history. The Polish president had stripped Zelenskyy of the award, which Ukrainians believed was meant for their people and army. In a social media post, Zelenskyy explained his decision, highlighting the respect Ukrainians deserve.
Photos of the Polish order and a postal receipt accompanied Zelenskyy’s message on X, indicating it was being mailed to the Polish presidential office. President Karol Nawrocki removed the Order of the White Eagle after Zelenskyy named a military unit after a contentious Ukrainian paramilitary organization linked to wartime massacres of Poles. Former President Andrzej Duda had awarded Zelenskyy the honor in 2023 for contributions to security and human rights.
Zelenskyy’s decree from May 26 named a unit of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), active during the 1940s and accused in Poland of mass killings. “For most Poles, the UPA is known for its brutal crimes against Polish citizens during World War II,” said Nawrocki in a 13-minute social media address. Zelenskyy’s decision reignited old tensions between the countries.
The Ukrainian decree faced criticism in Poland, which hosts millions of Ukrainian refugees and supports Kyiv in its defense against Russia. Nawrocki, a nationalist politician, has capitalized on anti-Ukrainian sentiment for electoral purposes. Despite this, Nawrocki insisted that Poland’s support for Ukraine would not waver. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Poland’s backing and openness to resolving historical differences.
Ukrainian Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov labeled Nawrocki’s action as an unfriendly move that benefits Moscow. Several Ukrainian officials, including Budanov, pledged to return Polish honors. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk criticized the overall decision, calling it harmful and incorrect.
Poland is set to host a significant event on Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction soon, which Zelenskyy is expected to attend. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on leaders to reduce tensions, warning that the rift delights adversaries like Putin. Zelenskyy’s decree aimed at restoring military traditions and recognized the unit’s contributions to Ukraine’s defense.
Though the UPA fought against Nazi Germany and Soviet forces for Ukrainian independence, it’s accused of killing tens of thousands of Poles, primarily in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during Nazi occupation. In 2016, the Polish Parliament classified UPA’s crimes as genocide. Ukrainians argue that both UPA and Polish underground groups were involved in violent exchanges leading to civilian casualties.
Recent meetings between Poland and Ukraine signaled progress in exhuming Polish victims, showing some reconciliation efforts. A December meeting in Warsaw between the presidents indicated movement towards resolving historical disputes.