Poland to raise issue of Volhynia tragedy during Ukraine's EU membership talks
Photo: Poland plans to raise the topic of the Volhynia tragedy during talks on Ukraine's EU membership (Getty Images)
Poland plans to raise the issue of exhuming Polish victims of the Volhynia tragedy during the first chapter of Ukraine's EU membership negotiations, stated Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, according to Polsat News.
"The first chapter of the EU accession negotiations for Ukraine will cover the rule of law and justice. The issue of exhumations (of the Volhynia tragedy victims - ed.) will certainly be discussed within this framework," Bartoszewski said.
"If this chapter is not closed, Ukraine will not progress to the next ones," he added.
According to Bartoszewski, the possibility of exhuming Polish victims and ensuring proper burial is "absolutely fundamental in our culture."
"We are not blackmailing Ukraine; we are simply stating that they must adhere to European standards. We don’t seek revenge or demand punishment, we only want a dignified burial for our ancestors," Bartoszewski added.
Background
In 1943, a conflict between Ukrainians and Polish settlers in Volhynia led to the deaths of many civilians on both sides. Poland and pro-Russian propaganda refer to these events as the "Volhynia massacre."
Recently, Poland's Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Warsaw should not approve Ukraine's EU membership until the issue of the 1943 Volhynia tragedy is resolved. He suggested that in the context of Ukraine's European integration, Poland should "issue an ultimatum."
Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda opposed blocking Ukraine's EU accession over the Volhynia tragedy.
