Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has publicly criticized the escalating diplomatic conflict between Poland and Ukraine, warning that the current tensions over historical memory and state awards only serve Russia’s interests.
Tusk’s comments follow Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to strip President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state distinction.
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“The conflict between Poland and Ukraine pleases Putin and shocks our allies,” Tusk wrote in a statement on X. “The task of presidents Zelensky and Nawrocki is to calm passions, not incite tension. The front line lies elsewhere.”
Nawrocki’s justification for revocation
The diplomatic dispute centers on Nawrocki’s announcement regarding Zelensky’s award. In a recent video address, the Polish president explained that his decision was a direct response to Ukraine granting a military unit the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA.”
The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) was a nationalist partisan force active during and after World War II. While recognized in Ukraine for its role in the state’s independence struggle, Warsaw holds the organization responsible for the mass killings of Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia.
According to Nawrocki, the naming of the unit “goes far beyond the internal affairs of Ukraine.”
“Poland has repeatedly emphasized to the Ukrainian side the special importance of this issue,” Nawrocki stated. “We communicated our position and expectations regarding the reconsideration of the consequences of this decision for relations between our states. Ultimately, the position of the Ukrainian side has not changed.”
Tusk Backs Removal of ‘Accelerated’ EU Accession for Ukraine
Konflikt między Polską i Ukrainą cieszy Putina i szokuje naszych sojuszników. Zadaniem prezydentów Zelenskiego i Nawrockiego jest tonowanie emocji, a nie podsycanie napięcia. Linia frontu przebiega gdzie indziej.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) June 19, 2026
Ukrainian officials return honors
Nawrocki’s decision has prompted an immediate diplomatic pushback from Kyiv, resulting in senior Ukrainian officials voluntarily returning their Polish state awards.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, announced his refusal of the Golden Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, which he received from the Polish p last year.
In a statement, Budanov characterized Nawrocki’s decision as an “unfriendly act” and a “gift to the Moscow aggressor.” He noted that while Ukraine and Poland share both heroic and tragic history, it should prompt reflection rather than political maneuvering.
“Ukraine does not tell any other nation how to teach its history. Therefore, we reserve the fair right to our own national memory and dignity,” Budanov stated, adding that he could not stand aside while “the flywheel of hatred being baselessly and artificially spun up against our citizens.”
Budanov’s move follows a similar action by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who announced he would return his Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. Sybiha described Warsaw’s actions as a “strategic mistake,” emphasizing that Ukraine has consistently worked to depoliticize historical disputes through joint search and exhumation efforts.
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