---
title: "Sikorski Admits Warsaw's Mistake: Revoking Zelensky's Order Was an 'Inadequate' Response to the UPA Dispute"
description: "Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski admitted that revoking Zelensky's Order of the White Eagle was an 'inadequate' step that humiliated the Ukrainian leader. The diplomat suggested renaming the airport in Jasionka instead of withdrawing the award. Sikorski warned that the conflict could complicate Ukraine's accession to the EU. 🇵🇱🇺🇦"
date: 2026-06-26T20:38:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sikorski-admits-warsaw-mistake-revoking-zelenskys-order-inadequate-response-upa-dispute
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Sikorski Admits Warsaw's Mistake: Revoking Zelensky's Order Was an 'Inadequate' Response to the UPA Dispute

![Marek Sikorski in front of Polish and EU flags, discussing the revocation of Zelensky's order as an inadequate response to the UPA dispute](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/26/sikorskiy-priznal-oshibku-varshavy-otzyv-ordena-zelenskogo/sikorskiy-priznal-oshibku-varshavy-otzyv-ordena-zelenskogo-1.webp)

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, in an interview with TVN24, admitted that the decision to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle was a mistake. According to the head of Polish diplomacy, this move was a disproportionate reaction to historical disputes and effectively humiliated the leader of a country currently at war.

The diplomatic conflict erupted after the Ukrainian side named one of the Special Operations Forces units in honor of the Heroes of the UPA. This provoked a sharp reaction in Warsaw, where the historical memory of the activities of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains an extremely sensitive topic.

### Sikorski Proposed an Alternative

During the conversation, the Polish Foreign Minister commented on the complexity of the situation, acknowledging the dual historical role of the UPA. On the one hand, the organization fought against Soviet power; on the other, it committed crimes against the Polish population.

Sikorski expressed the opinion that the Ukrainian side should have shown more tact and chosen a different name for the military unit. As an example, he suggested choosing the name of a specific hero who fought against Soviet occupation to avoid historical collisions.

However, speaking about Warsaw's reaction, Sikorski was candid: the actions of Polish President Karol Nawrocki to withdraw the award were inadequate. The diplomat noted that if he had been asked for advice, he would have proposed a different scenario. According to him, balancing the situation could have been achieved, for example, by renaming the airport in Jasionka to the Airport of Victims of the UPA.

### Consequences for Dialogue and European Integration

Radosław Sikorski warned of serious consequences of the incident. According to him, the revocation of the order deprived the Polish side of the opportunity to conduct a full-fledged dialogue with the president of a country that is currently conducting active hostilities. This creates additional risks for future cooperation.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid special attention to the process of Ukraine's European integration. He reminded that negotiations are only part of the way, and the final accession treaty to the EU will require the signature of the President of Poland for ratification.

"I would like to see what arguments the Ukrainian side will use to convince the President of Poland to ratify the treaty," emphasized Sikorski, pointing to the importance of maintaining working relations at the highest level.

### Kyiv's Countermeasures

After Karol Nawrocki stripped Volodymyr Zelensky of the highest state award of Poland, Kyiv responded in kind. The Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Budanov and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga refused the Polish awards they had received. Former presidents Petro Poroshenko, Viktor Yushchenko, and Leonid Kuchma also returned their insignia.

Volodymyr Zelensky personally sent his Order of the White Eagle back to Warsaw via the "Nova Poshta" delivery service, which became a symbolic conclusion to the first stage of this diplomatic crisis.