Poland threatens to block Ukraine's EU accession over Bandera glorification

Poland is escalating its rhetoric towards Ukraine, warning that it could block Kyiv's accession to the European Union if Ukrainian authorities do not cease glorifying Stepan Bandera and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

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With Bandera, Ukraine will not enter the European Union.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz declared in a television interview that Ukraine "will not enter the European Union with Bandera." He emphasized that honoring individuals or organizations that promote suffering or false historical narratives is unacceptable for European cooperation. Kosiniak-Kamysz asserted Poland's sovereign right to vote on EU expansion, stating, "No one will tell us how we should vote on a country's accession to the European Union."

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We cannot build European cooperation on respect for people or organizations that cause suffering, rejection, or promote false versions of history in relation to member states of the European Union.

The stern warning comes amid deteriorating relations between Warsaw and Kyiv concerning historical memory. Earlier in June, Polish President Karol Nawrocki rescinded the Order of the White Eagle award given to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Nawrocki cited Ukraine's decision to name a military unit in honor of UPA fighters as the reason, stating Poland would not support the EU accession of a state that does not renounce "the cult of totalitarianism and violence."

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No one will tell us how we should vote on a country's accession to the European Union.

In response to these actions, several Ukrainian officials have announced they would return decorations received from Poland. Meanwhile, Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Poland's main opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), has called on the government to block the opening of new negotiation chapters for Ukraine's EU membership. President Zelenskyy, however, has firmly stated, "No one will tell us whom to honor."

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Poland will not support the EU accession of a state that does not understand the need to renounce what he called 'the cult of totalitarianism and violence'.