A diplomatic conflict between Warsaw and Kyiv, sparked by the Ukrainian leadership's decision to name a military unit after the UPA, has entered a critical phase. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in an interview with Polish media, firmly outlined his country's position: the responsibility for resolving the dispute lies exclusively with Ukraine.
"The Ukrainian side provoked the problem itself"
According to Tusk, it was Kyiv that provoked this crisis and is now obligated to find a solution to overcome it. Currently, Polish representatives are holding active negotiations with the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov. Tusk described the current situation as an "absolutely unnecessary conflict," emphasizing that Warsaw had previously made significant efforts to overcome the "demons of the past."
The head of the Polish government noted the unity of the authorities and society regarding historical issues. He expressed full solidarity with the position of the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki. Tusk acknowledged the right of Ukrainians to honor those who fought against Soviet occupation, but drew a clear red line: Warsaw cannot accept the honoring of figures who, in their time, killed Poles.
Threat of shifting to "hard business"
Tusk urged Kyiv to take these arguments into account, reminding them that Ukraine should be interested in support from Poland. However, the Polish Prime Minister did not hide the consequences in the event of failed negotiations. If a compromise is not reached, future relations between the states will be determined by "hard business," not empathy.
In response to Warsaw's statements, Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Dmytro Litvin told journalists that the Office of the President does not comment on the issue of relations with Poland. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that Kyiv did not intend to offend Polish society, emphasizing that for Ukrainians, the UPA is a symbol of the struggle against Russian imperial policy.
Escalation and consequences
The trigger for the diplomatic crisis was an order by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dated May 26, which named the Separate Center for Special Operations "North" the "Heroes of the UPA" unit for high results in combat tasks. In response, the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, stated that he does not rule out the possibility of depriving Zelenskyy of the highest state award of Poland.
The tension resulted in concrete actions at the local level. In Poland, calls were made to block Ukraine's European integration. Furthermore, the authorities of the city of Lublin dismantled the Ukrainian flag from the city hall building, which had hung there since 2022 as a sign of support.