President Nawrocki Revokes Zelensky's Top Polish Honour Over UPA Controversy
Poland's President Karol Nawrocki has formally stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle over his decision to name a military brigade after a WWII group that massacred Poles.
On Friday evening, President Karol Nawrocki announced he has decided to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from President Zelensky, escalating a diplomatic row that has strained Polish-Ukrainian relations for weeks. The decision follows Zelensky's May decision to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), an organisation responsible for massacres of tens of thousands of Polish civilians during World War II, particularly in Volhynia and eastern Galicia.
Nawrocki, a conservative who took office last year, emphasised that "this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people" and "does not signify a change in the strategic direction of Polish security policy," stating "We have supported and continue to support Ukraine because we know that Russian aggression poses a threat to the security of Poland and all of Europe."
Failed Diplomatic Efforts
After Nawrocki initially declared his intention to strip the honour, Ukraine sought dialogue with Poland to defuse the situation, with the head of Zelensky's office, Kyrylo Budanov, visiting Poland for talks with Nawrocki's staff and the Polish government; however, there has been no diplomatic breakthrough, with Poland insisting that Ukraine must rename the unit, something Kyiv has so far been unwilling to do.
The Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state decoration, was awarded to Zelensky in 2023 by Nawrocki's predecessor, President Andrzej Duda, in recognition of Ukraine's resistance to Russian aggression.
What this means for foreigners in Poland: While this diplomatic dispute does not directly affect residents' daily lives, it may influence the tone of public discourse around Ukrainian refugees and the broader atmosphere of Polish-Ukrainian relations. Poland has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters since Russia's full-scale invasion, hosting millions of Ukrainian refugees who remain integrated into Polish society and the labour market.
Sources
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