Ukraine’s President Returns Polish Honor Amid Historical Dispute

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has returned Poland’s highest state honor. This follows the Polish president’s decision to strip him of the award due to a politically charged conflict over World War II history. Zelenskyy explained the return of the honor in a social media post, stating that Ukrainians viewed it as meant for the Ukrainian people and the military.

Accompanying his message on X, Zelenskyy included photos of the Polish order and a postal receipt indicating its return to the Polish presidential office. Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle due to his decision to name a military unit after a contentious Ukrainian paramilitary group from the WWII era.

Former Polish President Andrzej Duda awarded Zelenskyy the honor in 2023, recognizing his contributions to security, resilience, and human rights defense. However, Zelenskyy issued a decree on May 26, naming a unit of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). This group operated in the 1940s and 1950s and is accused by Poland of mass atrocities against Polish citizens during the war.

“For the majority of Polish society, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains a formation responsible for cruel crimes against the citizens of the Polish Republic during World War II,” Nawrocki said in a speech on social media.

Zelenskyy’s decision has reignited old grievances in Poland. The decree received widespread criticism, especially given Poland’s key role as a supporter of Kyiv against Russia’s ongoing invasion. Nonetheless, Nawrocki, noted for nationalist policies, has utilized anti-Ukrainian sentiments for political advantages.

The revocation of the honor doesn’t imply a reduction in Poland’s support for Ukraine in its resistance against Russia, according to Nawrocki. Ukraine, while appreciative of Poland’s support, remains open to addressing historical disputes, as noted by Zelenskyy in his statement. Ukrainian Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov criticized Nawrocki’s action, labeling it an unfriendly move that benefits Moscow, Ukraine’s adversary.

Four Ukrainian officials, including Budanov, have also returned state honors from Poland. Some voices in Ukraine, such as former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, criticized the return of the honors, citing the need to remedy the situation diplomatically rather than through reciprocal actions.

Calls for resolution of differences have gained momentum, particularly with Poland hosting an upcoming event focused on Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction, which Zelenskyy was expected to attend. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a political opponent of Nawrocki, urged both parties to de-escalate tensions. “The front line runs elsewhere,” Tusk tweeted, remarking that the disagreement pleases Putin and unsettles allies.

Zelenskyy’s May decree indicated the intent to revive military traditions and honor the unit’s role in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty. The UPA, known for seeking Ukrainian independence against both Nazi and Soviet forces, faces accusations of having killed tens of thousands of Poles, particularly in regions under Nazi occupation such as Volhynia and Eastern Galicia.

In 2016, Poland’s government officially recognized these actions by the UPA as genocide. Ukrainians argue that both the UPA and Polish resistance were engaged in violent clashes leading to significant civilian losses on both sides. Recent discussions between Poland and Ukraine have aimed at resolving historical issues, with an important meeting in Warsaw last December setting a positive tone for reconciliation.