Poland's Institute Head Explains Zelenskyy Award Revocation Amid Historical Dispute

Karol Nawrocki, president of Poland's Institute of National Remembrance, has clarified his controversial decision to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. Nawrocki stated that the Polish nation, having long fought for its independence against totalitarian regimes and Soviet colonizers, possesses a distinct threshold for pain regarding matters involving its allies. He asserted that this threshold was crossed, prompting the revocation of the award. Nawrocki highlighted Poland's history, noting that the nation experienced freedom for only 31 years throughout the 20th century. The decision has led to a diplomatic dispute, with President Zelenskyy officially returning the award to Poland via the Nova Poshta company. Zelenskyy emphasized that the decoration was intended for the entire Ukrainian people and their military. In solidarity with Zelenskyy, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, also renounced his Polish award, the Golden Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, calling Warsaw's actions speculative. The dispute centers on differing interpretations of historical memory, particularly concerning the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

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We are a proud Polish nation and have our own pain threshold when it comes to issues concerning us and our allies. This pain threshold has been crossed, which is why I took the Order of the White Eagle from President Zelenskyy.