Yushchenko Renounces Polish Award in Protest Over Zelenskyy's Revoked Honor

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has decided to renounce the Polish Order of the White Eagle, a prestigious state decoration. His spokesperson announced on Facebook that the move signifies Yushchenko's disagreement with Polish President Andrzej Duda's decision to withdraw the award from the current Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

President Duda announced on Friday evening that he was revoking the Order of the White Eagle from Zelenskyy. This action stems from Ukraine's decision to name a military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). This armed faction of Stepan Bandera's Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, active during World War II, is accused by Polish historians of ethnic cleansing and massacres of Poles, Czechs, and Jews in the Volhynia region in 1943, resulting in an estimated 100,000 Polish deaths.

"The decision of the Ukrainian authorities to glorify the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is not only scandalous and incomprehensible but also disappointing. It is an attack not only on historical memory but also on trust built over years and in recent months. It is an attack on the foundations of reconciliation," Duda explained his decision to revoke the order from Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy responded on social media, stating that he had returned the order to Poland. He expressed his belief that the award was given to the Ukrainian people and their army, and that future events would confirm the respect Ukrainians command. Zelenskyy also acknowledged Poland's support and cooperation, particularly during Ukraine's war against Russia, and emphasized Ukraine's openness to constructive dialogue to avoid misinterpretations of complex historical issues and ensure respect for all innocent victims of the 20th century.

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Ukrajina će ostati otvorena za sve konstruktivne oblike dijaloga sa Poljskom kako bi se izbeglo svako pogrešno tumačenje složenih i bolnih stranica istorije naših naroda i kako bi se garantovalo poštovanje koje duguje svim nevinim žrtvama 20. veka