Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s oldest and highest distinction. The reason was the naming of a Ukrainian special forces unit after the ‘Heroes of the UPA’ – the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Nawrocki emphasized that the decision was not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not change the strategic direction of Polish security policy.
In response to Nawrocki’s step, several top Ukrainian politicians returned their Polish awards. The head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, former presidents Viktor Yushchenko and Leonid Kuchma, and Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar gave up their orders. Sybiha called Nawrocki’s decision a ‘strategic mistake’ that only benefits Moscow. Budanov stated that the step was a ‘gift for the Moscow aggressor.’
Donald Tusk criticized Nawrocki’s decision. He wrote on X that the conflict between Poland and Ukraine pleases Putin and shocks the allies. Tusk called on both sides to show restraint. Experts fear a strain on bilateral relations and speculate that Zelensky may not attend the Ukraine Reconstruction Forum on June 25–26 in Gdańsk.
Source: www.bbc.com
