Ukraine Recovery Conference opens in Gdańsk amid Polish-Ukrainian historical dispute

Gdańsk, Poland, is hosting the 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference, bringing together European leaders and business executives to discuss reconstruction and future investments in Ukraine. The conference, co-organized by the Polish government, aims to address Ukraine's needs once the war with Russia concludes.

The event, however, is overshadowed by a recent diplomatic dispute between Poland and Ukraine concerning historical memory. Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced on June 19 that he was revoking the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest honor, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This decision followed outrage in Poland over Zelenskyy's decision to name a Ukrainian military unit after "heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA).

The UPA, an independence group that fought the Soviet Union, is accused of collaborating with Nazi Germany and is responsible for the massacre of over 100,000 Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia between 1943 and 1945. The historical grievances have cast a shadow over the recovery conference, which is meant to symbolize solidarity and support for Ukraine.

Adding to the tension, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's last-minute withdrawal from attending the conference in person has further fueled speculation about the depth of the rift. The conference, held in the city historically known as the birthplace of the Solidarity movement, now finds itself navigating complex historical issues alongside its primary mission of planning Ukraine's future.