Diplomatic tensions rise as Zelensky returns Poland’s highest state honor
A new diplomatic dispute has emerged between Ukraine and Poland after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned Poland’s highest state decoration, the Order of the White Eagle, amid a growing historical controversy between the two allies.
The dispute was triggered after Zelensky signed a decree in late May renaming a Ukrainian military unit in honor of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a World War II-era nationalist force.
The move sparked strong criticism in Poland, where the UPA is widely associated with the massacres of tens of thousands of Polish civilians in Volhynia during World War II. In Ukraine, however, many regard the group as a symbol of the country’s struggle for independence.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki reportedly announced that he intended to revoke the award previously granted to Zelensky in 2023, arguing that honoring the UPA was incompatible with European values.
In response, Zelensky returned the decoration before any formal revocation process could take place. According to reports, several former Ukrainian presidents also returned Polish honors in solidarity with the Ukrainian leader.
Despite the dispute, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine remains open to dialogue with Poland on difficult historical issues and expressed gratitude to the Polish people for their support since the beginning of the war with Russia.