Poland's Tusk urges mutual respect amid Ukraine presidential dispute

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for mutual respect between Poland and Ukraine as a dispute between their presidents over historical interpretations of World War II threatened to overshadow a reconstruction conference in Gdansk.

"We can only build the future on truth, mutual respect, and understanding of history," Tusk stated at the opening of the two-day conference. This comes after Polish President Karol Nawrocki criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for naming a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The UPA, while seen by some Ukrainians as national heroes for fighting for independence, is also controversial due to its collaboration with Nazis and massacres of Poles and Jews.

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We can only build the future on truth, mutual respect, and understanding of history.

Nawrocki's criticism led to the revocation of Ukraine's highest Polish honor, the Order of the White Eagle, sparking protests in Ukraine where several politicians returned their Polish honors. This internal dispute has strained the strategically important relationship between the two countries. Tusk, who has a strained relationship with the conservative Nawrocki and faces accusations of being too pro-Ukraine from the right-wing opposition, has been attempting to de-escalate the situation without success.

As a result, Zelenskyy did not attend the Gdansk conference, unlike in previous years. Ukraine was represented by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who thanked Poland for supporting Ukraine's potential EU membership. However, Poland holds reservations about Ukraine's accession, particularly concerning its large agricultural sector and potential impact on the Polish economy. Poland has been a key European supporter of Ukraine, providing military aid and hosting nearly 1.5 million refugees.

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We can only build the future on truth, mutual respect, and understanding of history.