Zelenskyy skips Poland reconstruction conference amid historical row

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will miss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a reconstruction conference in Gdansk, Poland, as a dispute over historical grievances escalates. The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Prime Minister Yulia Syrydenko.

Zelenskyy's decision not to attend follows a sharp exchange of words between Kyiv and Warsaw. The conflict ignited after Zelenskyy named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Poles during World War II. This move sparked significant outrage in Poland, leading to Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoking a Polish order awarded to Zelenskyy, prompting Ukrainian politicians to return Polish decorations.

The dispute risks impacting all areas of strategically vital cooperation between the two nations. It also carries domestic political weight in Poland, where right-wing populist figures like Nawrocki are attempting to hinder the liberal government of Tusk by capitalizing on growing "Ukraine fatigue" within Polish society. Major media outlets in both countries have called for restraint, warning that the conflict benefits only their common enemy, Russia.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) has been held annually since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, with Zelenskyy participating remotely in previous years and attending in person for the 2024 and 2025 events. This year's absence highlights the fragility of even close alliances when historical sensitivities clash with current geopolitical necessities.

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Our politicians should demonstrate wisdom and reason, seek agreement and a way out of the crisis.