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Zelenskyy returns Poland's highest honor amid history spat
🇺🇸 United States /Culture & Society

Zelenskyy returns Poland's highest honor amid history spat

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned Poland's highest state honor, the Order of the White Eagle, amid a dispute over World War II history.
  • The award was revoked by Polish President Karol Nawrocki after Zelenskyy named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, accused of massacring Poles.
  • Zelenskyy stated the order was for the Ukrainian people and army, expressing belief that future events will confirm the respect Ukrainians deserve.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has returned Poland's highest state honor, the Order of the White Eagle, in response to President Karol Nawrocki revoking the award amid a politically charged dispute over World War II history.

Zelenskyy explained the gesture in a social media post, stating the order "was meant for the Ukrainian People and our army." He added, "Today, I sent the Order back to the President of Poland. I believe the future will confirm the respect Ukrainians deserve." Photos of the award and a postal receipt accompanied the message.

Today, I sent the Order back to the President of Poland. I believe the future will confirm the respect Ukrainians deserve.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkrainian President explaining his decision to return Poland's highest state honor on social media.

The revocation by Nawrocki, a nationalist politician, followed Zelenskyy's May 26 decree naming a unit of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The UPA operated in the 1940s and 1950s and is accused in Poland of mass killings of Poles during World War II.

For the majority of Polish society, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains above all a formation responsible for cruel crimes against the citizens of the Polish Republic during World War II.

— Karol NawrockiPolish President explaining his decision to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from Zelenskyy.

"For the majority of Polish society, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains above all a formation responsible for cruel crimes against the citizens of the Polish Republic during World War II," Nawrocki stated. The Ukrainian decree had drawn widespread criticism in Poland, a key supporter of Kyiv amid Russia's invasion.

Despite the historical dispute, Nawrocki asserted that the decision did not signify a decrease in Poland's support for Ukraine's defense. Zelenskyy affirmed Ukraine's gratitude for Poland's support and expressed openness to resolving historical differences. However, Ukrainian Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov called Nawrocki's decision an "unfriendly act toward our people" and "a gift to the Moscow aggressor," suggesting it would be used against both nations. Four Ukrainian officials, including Budanov, announced they would return state honors issued to them by Poland.

an unfriendly act toward our people and a gift to the Moscow aggressor, which will certainly use it against both of our countries.

— Kyrylo BudanovUkrainian Presidential Office chief criticizing Poland's decision to revoke the honor.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by PBS NewsHour in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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