Polish President Karol Nawrocki is set to visit Washington on June 14, invited by U.S. President Donald Trump, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday. Nawrocki’s trip includes participation in the UFC Freedom 250 gala at the White House.
The visit coincides with the United States marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. According to Marcin Przydacz, Deputy Head of the International Policy Bureau of the Polish President’s Office, discussions will focus on security and bilateral relations.
Przydacz emphasized the long-standing ties between Poland and the U.S., rooted in shared history, values, and strategic partnership, which currently manifests in political, economic, and defense collaboration.
Earlier, on May 29, Nawrocki criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for naming a special operations unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). He suggested that Zelensky should be stripped of the Polish Order of the White Eagle as a consequence.
This controversy stems from Zelensky’s May 26 decree, which honored the Separate Center for Special Operations “North” with the title “in the name of the Heroes of the UPA,” aimed at reviving historical military traditions.
The decision sparked outrage among some Polish historians and politicians, who condemned it, citing the UPA’s historical actions against Poles in Volhynia. The Polish Institute of National Remembrance stated that the UPA was responsible for “genocide in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia,” and called for resistance against the glorification of the UPA by Ukrainian authorities.
Former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa, who has supported Ukraine and Zelensky, also criticized the decision, stating he would remove the Ukrainian flag pin he had worn since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He expressed that Zelensky’s honoring of UPA members was offensive to him and the memory of Polish victims.
On June 5, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the Ukrainian side needs to “seek solutions” to address this issue. He expressed understanding for Nawrocki’s reaction and the suggestion to revoke Zelensky’s Polish honor, which was awarded by former President Andrzej Duda in 2023. Tusk emphasized that Polish public opinion and government would remain united regarding historical matters.
Zelensky has not publicly commented on his decision regarding the naming of the special operations unit, but Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha claimed that the soldiers chose the name themselves, asserting that there was no intention to offend Poland.
No comments have been made from Ukraine regarding Tusk’s position or Nawrocki’s proposal to revoke Zelensky’s honor.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki will visit Washington on June 14 for President Trump's birthday and to attend a gala event. This visit comes amid rising tensions over Ukraine's recent military honor naming, criticized by Polish officials, highlighting historical sensitivities between the two nations.