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🇮🇸 Iceland /Culture & Society

Ukraine Officials to Return Polish Awards Amid Zelenskyy Honor Dispute

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Ukrainian officials will return Polish awards after Poland revoked an honorary award given to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
  • The dispute stems from Zelenskyy's recent mention of a Ukrainian nationalist partisan army involved in massacres of Poles during World War II.
  • Poland's president decided to strip Zelenskyy of the award despite appeals from Ukrainian authorities and the Polish prime minister.

High-ranking Ukrainian officials announced they will return Polish awards they received, in solidarity with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This decision follows Poland's move to revoke an honorary award previously bestowed upon Zelenskyy.

The controversy ignited earlier this month when Zelenskyy referenced the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in a speech. The UPA was involved in massacres of Poles during World War II, a historical event that deeply troubles Poland. This reference angered Polish authorities.

Karol Nawrocki, president of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, proceeded to strip Zelenskyy of the nation's highest honor. This decision was made despite pleas from both the Ukrainian government and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to reconsider.

In response, Andriy Sybiga, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, and the Ukrainian ambassador to Warsaw stated their intention to return awards granted to them by Poland. This act signifies Ukraine's unified stance with its president amidst the diplomatic dispute.

We will return the awards.

— Andriy SybigaUkraine's Foreign Minister, announcing the decision to return Polish awards in solidarity with President Zelenskyy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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