Poland's Tusk urges Kyiv to make first move over recent controversy
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (photo: Getty Images)
Poland expects Ukraine to take decisive steps to ease tensions in bilateral relations. Warsaw has described Kyiv's recent decision to honor historical figures linked to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) as unfortunate, according to Polsat News, citing Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
What Warsaw expects
Speaking at a press conference, the Polish prime minister said he had received several messages from both former and current Ukrainian politicians.
Among them was a letter from former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko calling for joint efforts to address the countries' shared historical past.
Tusk notes that such efforts are important to ensure that the past does not dictate the future, but Warsaw expects reciprocity.
"We expect Ukraine to take the first step following this unfortunate decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It would be good to hear a very clear signal from Kyiv. They are trying, but we would still like to hear that message clearly," the Polish premier said.
What sparked this dispute
In late May, Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Independent Special Operations Center of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces the honorary title "Heroes of UPA."
The decision drew sharp criticism from senior Polish officials. The Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains one of the most contentious issues in relations between the two countries because of the 1943 Volyn tragedy, which Poland recognizes as genocide, while Ukrainian historians view it as part of a broader bilateral conflict.
The situation escalated after Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced that Zelenskyy would be stripped of the Order of the White Eagle. In response, the Ukrainian president returned the decoration to Warsaw by courier the following day.
Russia seeks to drive wedge between Ukraine and Poland
The Kremlin prepares another information campaign targeting the Ukrainian-Polish partnership. This time, Russian intelligence services reportedly plan to use fabricated historical materials to provoke conflict over the Volyn tragedy.
Previously, Russia had already launched campaigns aimed at driving a wedge between Ukraine and Poland by attempting to reignite long-standing historical disputes.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Alexander Bortnikov, director of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), directly oversees and coordinates this information campaign. Russian state media are regularly tasked with spreading such disinformation.
The renewed Russian propaganda operation comes as genuine disagreements have emerged in bilateral relations between the two countries.
Most recently, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made a high-profile statement on relations with Ukraine, calling on Kyiv to make certain concessions and demonstrate goodwill to help reduce current tensions.
At the same time, the Polish premier stressed that Warsaw would continue supporting Ukraine in its fight under any circumstances.
