Zelensky returns highest Polish honour after award stripped
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has returned Poland’s highest state honour after Polish President Karol Nawrocki moved to strip him of the award, escalating a diplomatic dispute rooted in painful historical disagreements between the two nations.
The Order of the White Eagle was originally bestowed on Zelensky in 2023 by former Polish President Andrzej Duda, recognising Ukraine’s leadership during its ongoing war with Russia. However, the honour became politically sensitive after recent tensions emerged over Ukraine’s handling of World War Two-era history.
The dispute intensified after Kyiv renamed a Ukrainian military unit after members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a controversial group from the 1940s and 1950s. While many Ukrainians view the UPA as fighters for national independence against Soviet and Nazi forces, Poland strongly associates the group with mass killings of Polish civilians during the Volhynia massacres.
Polish authorities estimate that around 100,000 ethnic Poles were killed in the region during 1943–45, an interpretation that remains a deeply emotional and unresolved issue in Polish historical memory. The decision to name a military unit after the group sparked outrage in Warsaw and triggered the latest diplomatic fallout.
President Nawrocki described Ukraine’s decision as “outrageous,” “incomprehensible,” and “deeply disappointing,” arguing that it undermined trust between the two nations. He said the UPA is widely seen in Poland as responsible for brutal wartime crimes, warning that such symbolic decisions damage long-standing diplomatic goodwill.
In response, Zelensky said Ukraine would remain open to dialogue and “meaningful formats of engagement” with Poland to avoid conflicting interpretations of shared history. He emphasised Ukraine’s gratitude for Poland’s support, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, noting Poland’s role in hosting refugees and serving as a key logistics hub for military and humanitarian aid.
Following the escalation, Zelensky confirmed he had returned the Polish honour. Several senior Ukrainian officials also announced they were returning awards previously granted by Poland, expressing solidarity with the president amid the controversy.
Despite the political tension, Polish leaders have stressed that the dispute will not affect their country’s support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Poland remains one of Kyiv’s strongest allies, continuing to provide military assistance and political backing within NATO and the European Union.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged calm, warning that internal divisions between Ukraine and Poland could ultimately benefit Russia. He called on both governments to de-escalate tensions and avoid further public confrontation.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for Ukraine, which is continuing efforts to advance its European Union membership ambitions. Ukrainian officials recently participated in an initial phase of accession talks in Luxembourg, underscoring Kyiv’s long-term goal of deeper integration with Europe despite ongoing conflict.
Ukraine-Poland relations remain historically complex, shaped by both modern military cooperation and unresolved wartime memories that continue to influence political discourse today.
