---
title: "Sikorski vs. 'Political Nonsense': Why Poland Should Not Strip Zelenskyy of His Order, But Leave Schröder's"
description: "Radosław Sikorski sharply criticized the idea of stripping Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle if the award remains with former Chancellor Schröder. The Polish Foreign Minister called this \"political nonsense\" against the backdrop of the UPA scandal. 🇵🇱🇺🇦"
date: 2026-06-08T16:02:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sikorski-vs-political-nonsense-why-poland-should-not-strip-zelenskyy-of-his-order-but-leave-schroders
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Sikorski vs. 'Political Nonsense': Why Poland Should Not Strip Zelenskyy of His Order, But Leave Schröder's

![Marek Sikorski in a formal suit against a blue background, discussing the issue of awards for Zelensky and Schröder](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/08/sikorskiy-protiv-lisheniya-zelenskogo-ordena-ostavit-shtredera/sikorskiy-protiv-lisheniya-zelenskogo-ordena-ostavit-shtredera-1.webp)

A sharp diplomatic dispute is brewing in Polish politics, which could have far-reaching consequences for relations between Warsaw and Kyiv. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has publicly opposed the potential revocation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's highest state order, if a similar award remains with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

### Double Standards or Political Nonsense?

In his post on the social network X, Sikorski expressed concern that Poland might allow an absurd situation to develop. He emphasized that it would be unacceptable if Schröder, who, in the minister's opinion, "takes money from Putin," retained the title of Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, while the leader of a country fighting against the Russian president was stripped of this honor.

"I hope that after the decisions of the chapter and President Nawrocki, such a situation does not arise..." — wrote the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His words were a reaction to an initiative by Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who proposed considering the issue of stripping Zelenskyy of the award.

### The Cause of the Conflict: Memory and Geopolitics

The immediate cause of the escalation was a decision by the Ukrainian leadership. On May 26, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree granting the Special Operations Center "North" the honorary title "named after the Heroes of the UPA". In Kyiv, this decision was explained by the unit's high effectiveness in combat operations.

However, in Warsaw, this was received painfully. The UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) remains one of the most controversial symbols in Polish-Ukrainian relations due to events of the Second World War. Against the backdrop of this incident, President Nawrocki stated that he does not rule out the possibility of revoking the highest Polish award from Zelenskyy.

### Procedural Barriers and the Prime Minister's Position

Despite the initiative of the head of state, the procedure for revoking an order in Poland is not automatic. According to the legislation, the desire of the president and the decision of the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle are not enough. For the decision to come into force, a countersignature — official approval and the signature of the Prime Minister — is required.

In this situation, Prime Minister Donald Tusk plays a key role. He has already outlined his position, calling for direct negotiations between the leaders of the two countries. According to Tusk, emotions should not undermine the strategic solidarity between Poland and Ukraine against the backdrop of ongoing Russian aggression.

### Historical Context of Awards

Volodymyr Zelenskyy was awarded the Order of the White Eagle in April 2023 during his visit to Warsaw. The justification for the award cited merits in deepening bilateral relations, strengthening security, and protecting human rights.

At the same time, Gerhard Schröder, former Chancellor of Germany, has been a Knight of this same order since 2002. His name is often associated with close ties to Russian energy companies, which became the central argument in Radosław Sikorski's rhetoric. Today, a meeting of the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle is scheduled in Poland, where the fate of the Ukrainian leader's award will be discussed.