A symbolic decision has reignited deep historical tensions between neighboring allies, raising questions about diplomacy, memory, and political consequences. Officials signal caution as pressure quietly builds behind the scenes.
In Poland, there was a sharp reaction to Ukraine’s decision to grant one of its units an honorary title in honor of the “heroes of the UPA.” At the same time, Warsaw has not yet made any final decisions regarding the possible revocation of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle.
The position of the Polish side was outlined by presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz. He noted that the issue of the award remains within the authority of President Karol Nawrocki, but for now Poland is taking a wait-and-see approach.
According to him, Warsaw hopes that the Ukrainian president may reconsider his decision, which is why they are not rushing to take action.
“We will wait a little longer to see whether President Zelensky changes his decision. We cannot accept this situation,” said Leśkiewicz.
– Rafał Leśkiewicz
The Chancellery of the President of Poland уточнили that no decisions on this matter will be made before Karol Nawrocki’s trip to the United States, which will take place at the invitation of Donald Trump. It is also reported that there has been no direct contact between the leaders of Ukraine and Poland so far.
Leśkiewicz emphasized that the issue related to the UPA has not only a political dimension but also educational and historical aspects. It is being actively discussed both within Poland and internationally.
“We constantly talk about the UPA, and not only in Poland. We are also bringing this discussion to the international stage, which must understand why this decision by the President of Ukraine has such a negative impact on Polish-Ukrainian relations – not only symbolically, but also politically and socially,” he said.
– Rafał Leśkiewicz
What caused the escalation
On May 26, Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree granting the Separate Special Operations Center “North” the honorary title “named after the Heroes of the UPA.” The document explains this decision as a step toward restoring the historical traditions of the Ukrainian military.
This move sparked a strong reaction in Poland. In particular, Lech Wałęsa publicly expressed outrage, stating that the decision honored those he considers responsible for past tragedies.
Former Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Bartosz Cichocki also responded by returning the Order of Merit he had received from the Ukrainian side in 2022. In Lublin, the Ukrainian flag was removed from the city hall building.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized that for Ukrainians, the UPA is a symbol of resistance against Moscow’s imperial policy and does not have an anti-Polish orientation.
At the same time, Marcin Przydacz stated that Volodymyr Zelensky should personally contact Karol Nawrocki and apologize. The Polish president himself has allowed for the possibility of reviewing the decision to award the Ukrainian leader the Order of the White Eagle, which he received in 2023.
The situation surrounding this issue continues to complicate dialogue between the countries and remains an important topic in bilateral relations between Ukraine and Poland.