Nawrocki and Zelensky Meet But Bitter Poland-Ukraine History Clash Left ‘Unresolved’

The presidents of Poland and Ukraine emphasized they had a “common threat” in Russia as they met in the wake of a bitter clash over sensitive historical issues.

In June, Polish president Karol Nawrocki stripped Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Poland’s highest state honor after the Ukrainian leader decided to name a special operations unit after the UPA, World War II-era military group responsible for killing tens of thousands of Poles. 

The duo met at the fringes of the NATO summit in Turkey on Wednesday. 

Speaking at a press conference, Nawrocki said that while his meeting with Zelenskyy was “constructive,” the two sides “had not managed to resolve historical issues.”  

“Neighbors must maintain channels of dialogue. What does not change is the fact that Russia remains the main threat to both Poland and Ukraine,” he said. 

In a post on X, Zelenskyy called the meeting “an important and necessary conversation.” 

“We face one common threat — Russia. It is critical to maintain mutual understanding, support, and unity of action,” the Ukrainian president said, adding that Kyiv and Warsaw “agreed to continue our dialogue.” 

Nawrocki added a note of caution, however, saying that the “glorification of the UPA” was “not a negotiable issue” for Poland and arguing that Ukraine’s stance on the matter “limits Ukraine’s European ambitions.” 

Other Topics of Interest

Trump Says US Will Let Ukraine Build Patriot Systems: ‘We’ll Show Them How to Make Them’

Calling the Patriot system “elite equipment,” Trump added that the arrangement would allow Ukraine to produce the systems itself.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Wednesday also expressing regret over Zelenskyy’s decision to honor the UPA, which led to Nawrocki stripping him of the Order of the White Eagle last month. 

Dispute over history 

Many other leading political figures on both sides subsequently returned state honors, as the dispute over history continued to escalate.  

The diplomatic crisis between Poland and Ukraine centers on differing interpretations of the two nations’ World War II history.  

The UPA is viewed by many Ukrainians as an anti-Soviet and pro-independence movement.  

In Poland, however, it is primarily associated with the massacre of around 100,000 Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia between 1943 and 1945.  

While the ongoing dispute has severely strained relations between the two neighbors, Poland remains one of Kyiv’s staunchest backers in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion.