Poland has called on Ukraine to revoke its decision to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), citing concerns over the implications for the Order of the White Eagle awarded to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Marcin Przydacz, head of the Polish President’s International Policy Office, stated that the responsibility now lies with Ukraine to address this issue. He emphasized that Poland views this approach as fair and expects concrete actions from Kyiv to improve bilateral relations.
Przydacz remarked, “The ball is in Ukraine’s court,” adding that Ukraine is aware of the necessary steps to enhance its relationship with Poland. He indicated that the Polish government is looking for a meaningful response from Ukraine.
The diplomatic strain arose following Ukraine’s decision to honor one of its military units with the name of the UPA, which has sparked significant discontent among the Polish public. Many Poles feel disillusioned by this move, especially given the support Poland has extended to Ukraine in recent years.
Przydacz suggested that Ukraine still has the opportunity to reconsider its decision. Should there be no positive response, he noted that the Polish President would take appropriate further actions. “If this does not meet with a favorable reaction from Ukraine, which is currently evident due to a lack of concrete actions and gestures, the procedure will ultimately conclude with a decision from the President,” he stated.
Prior to this, a meeting of the Knights of the Order of the White Eagle was held to discuss Zelensky’s award, with participants conveying their conclusions to the Ukrainian President.
The diplomatic tension escalated after President Zelensky signed a decree granting the Special Operations Center “North” the honorary name of “Heroes of the UPA.” This decision drew sharp criticism from Warsaw, with Polish President Karol Nawrocki labeling it a sign of Kyiv’s unpreparedness for European Union membership and expressing intentions to strip Zelensky of the nation’s highest honor.
Subsequently, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski officially described Ukraine’s actions as a mistake and reiterated that Warsaw expects Ukraine to rectify the situation.
This historical dispute has also triggered a domestic political scandal in Poland, following Deputy Minister of Science Andrzej Sheptycki’s comparison of UPA fighters to Polish anti-communist underground fighters. This statement led to calls for his immediate resignation from President Duda’s office. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks on Sheptycki and urged Polish politicians to refrain from actions that contradict European values.
Poland has urged Ukraine to reconsider its decision to name a military unit after the UPA, citing concerns over bilateral relations and the Order of the White Eagle awarded to Zelensky. The situation has led to significant diplomatic tensions and public discontent in Poland.
Source: RBK-Ukraine