Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrzej Sepiga criticized Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to deprive Vladimir Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle.
“We will respond to all steps in a mirror way, especially if these steps are unfriendly and show disdain for our country. The time has passed when we did not notice this,” Sipija said on the National Telethon programme.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Navrotsky has become “destructive” of the positive achievements in relations between the two countries in recent times. “It is no coincidence that he received applause from Moscow,” Sibiga added.
Contempt for the President of Ukraine is not limited to just a matter of medals. This is disdain for the Ukrainian warrior, for the Ukrainian people, for our right to have our own history. We will not tolerate this. No other head of state will dictate our history for us anymore.
Noting that Ukraine always values relations with Poland and is grateful for the assistance it receives, Sepija called on the Poles to be “balanced and diplomatic.” “It is important to put emotions aside. We have mechanisms, positive experience in cooperation and political will. Ukraine is ready for an honest and equal dialogue,” he said.
Relations between Ukraine and Poland deteriorated after Zelensky granted the honorary title “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army” to a unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in May. In Poland, this decision sparked sharp criticism due to the participation of UPA fighters in the Volyn massacre of 1943-1944.
Karol Nawrocki Zelenski was denied the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state award. Zelensky responded by mailing the order to Poland. After him, three former presidents of Ukraine – Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko and Petro Poroshenko – renounced the Order of the White Eagle.