Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, has expressed concern over the potential withdrawal of the Order of the White Eagle from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder retains his honor. Sikorski’s remarks were reported by RBC-Ukraine, referencing a post he made on social media platform X.
Sikorski hopes that the upcoming decisions by the chapter of the Order and Polish President Karol Nawrocki will prevent the award from becoming a political absurdity. He stated,
“I hope that after the decisions of the chapter and President Nawrocki, a situation will not arise where former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who receives money from Putin, remains a knight of the Order of the White Eagle, while the one who fights against Putin is stripped of this title.”
The discussion surrounding the potential revocation of Zelensky’s award comes as the chapter of the Order of the White Eagle is set to convene. President Nawrocki has proposed adding the issue of revoking Zelensky’s honor to the agenda.
The impetus for this proposal stems from the honorary designation awarded to one of the units of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, which was named after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). According to Polish law, revoking such an honor requires more than just the president’s initiative; it also necessitates the official endorsement and signature of the Polish Prime Minister.
Zelensky was awarded the Order of the White Eagle in April 2023 during a visit to Warsaw, recognizing his contributions to strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing security, and protecting human rights. In contrast, Gerhard Schröder has held the same Polish honor since 2002, primarily due to his ties with Russian energy companies.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has raised concerns over the potential withdrawal of the Order of the White Eagle from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder retains his honor. The situation reflects ongoing tensions regarding political affiliations and historical narratives in the region.