A long private conversation at the NATO summit signalled a thaw after the White Eagle controversy, officials say. Details of their exchange remain limited.

On Wednesday, July 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met for the first time since the conflict with the Order of the White Eagle with Polish leader Karol Nawrocki during the NATO summit, according to the president’s adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, who told reporters.

Just finished. It was long

– Dmytro Lytvyn

According to Lytvyn, the Ukrainian president’s team was also present during Zelensky’s and Nawrocki’s conversation. He noted that, according to Zelensky, the communication with the Polish colleague was deep and meaningful – they discussed everything that was needed.

Subsequently, Zelensky confirmed the meeting with Nawrocki in Telegram, emphasizing that the conversation was important and necessary, and it lasted more than an hour.

The conversation was important and necessary

– Volodymyr Zelensky

Context of the Summit and Its Consequences

The threat we face is one and common: Russia. It is crucial to maintain mutual understanding, support, and act united. Our countries need only strong relations. We agreed to continue the dialogue

– Volodymyr Zelensky

Despite existing and unresolved historical questions, Poland and Ukraine should maintain constructive dialogue and cooperate in the face of a common threat from Russia

– Nawrocki, Ukrinform

In turn, Nawrocki after meeting Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit stressed: despite the existence of difficult and unresolved historical questions, Poland and Ukraine should maintain constructive dialogue and cooperate in the face of the common threat from Russia, Ukrinform reports.

Despite differences in historical issues, Warsaw and Kyiv have a shared vision of security challenges

– Nawrocki

For both Ukraine and Poland, the Russian Federation remains the main threat. We look at threats to our independence in the same way. This does not change

– Karol Nawrocki

On June 19, Karol Nawrocki stated that he decided to strip Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle due to a decree naming a unit of the Armed Forces in honor of the heroes of the UPA. He noted that for most of Polish society the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains a formation responsible for brutal crimes committed against citizens of the Republic of Poland during World War II.

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains a formation responsible for brutal crimes committed against citizens of the Republic of Poland during World War II

– Karol Nawrocki

On June 20, Zelensky sent the order via Nova Poshta, noting that Ukraine is grateful to Poland for its support and ready for further cooperation.

In a later interview with TSN, Zelensky explained the Polish president’s decision as a purely domestic political struggle. The Polish leader rejected that the conflict was connected with internal political processes in Poland.

The meeting between Zelensky and Nawrocki at the NATO summit demonstrates both countries’ willingness to deepen dialogue and jointly counter challenges, particularly from Russia, amid rising geopolitical tensions.