A diplomatic conflict between Warsaw and Kyiv, sparked by historical disagreements, has entered a critical phase. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski openly stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to award an honorary title linked to the UPA is a mistake that must be corrected.
According to RBK-Ukraine, citing TVP Info, the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry took the bold step of directly pointing out who is to blame. In his words, full responsibility for this move lies with the Ukrainian side, and it is Kyiv that must take steps to rectify the situation.
"Please follow the Prime Minister's statement. It was Ukraine that made the mistake, and we expect Ukraine to correct this mistake," emphasized Sikorski, leaving no room for ambiguous interpretations.
Roots of the conflict: Zelenskyy's decree and Warsaw's reaction
The scandal erupted in late May 2026, when Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree awarding the Separate Special Operations Center "North" the honorary title "named after the Heroes of the UPA." The basis for the award was the exemplary performance of combat tasks by the unit. However, this move provoked a stormy reaction in Poland, where the topic of the UPA remains extremely sensitive and painful.
Tensions reached such a level that an emergency meeting of the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle was convened. The agenda included a proposal to revoke the award previously bestowed upon the Ukrainian president. While Polish President Karol Nawrocki has not yet made a final decision, his position has already been voiced: he called Kyiv's actions evidence of "Ukraine's unpreparedness to join the EU" and did not rule out depriving Zelenskyy of the republic's highest state award.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also intervened in the discussion, urging the parties to stop quarreling over the past so that "someone else does not win the future." His words were an attempt to contain escalation, however, Sikorski's tone indicates that Warsaw is determined.
Internal dynamics: nationalism and "dark chapters"
The Polish Foreign Minister did not limit himself to criticizing Kyiv. In his speech, Sikorski also touched upon sharp internal debates within Poland itself. He called "scandalous" the statements by Przemysław Czarnek, the candidate for Prime Minister from the Law and Justice party (PiS).
Czarnek previously allowed himself comments regarding the number of Ukrainians working in the Polish state administration. Sikorski harshly criticized such nationalist outbursts, stating that they "summon the ghosts of dark chapters of Polish history." Thus, the minister outlined a dual position: toughness regarding historical issues with Ukraine and rejection of internal nationalism that could undermine the country's reputation.
Kyiv's response: strategic alliance against historical disputes
In response to the new wave of escalation and accusations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine spoke out. The department's representative, Heorhiy Tikhyy, urged partners to remain calm. He reminded that Poland remains Ukraine's first strategic ally.
The MFA noted that over the past year and a half, the countries have done significant work for mutual understanding. In particular, exhumation work has been resumed, and the Congress of Historians has become more active. Diplomats urged not to let historical disputes destroy the strategic alliance.
"We need to focus on uniting to confront a common enemy, not on looking for reasons to divide," summarized the Ukrainian foreign policy department, emphasizing the priority of current security over historical discussions.