Key facts
- The European Parliament passed an amendment criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to rename a military unit after the UPA.
- The amendment cited "unnecessary and unprovoked escalation" and disregard for Polish sensitivities regarding the UPA's historical actions.
- Poland's President Karol Nawrocki revoked Zelenskyy's Order of the White Eagle in response to the naming decision.
- The dispute impacted the Ukraine Recovery Conference, with Zelenskyy being replaced by the Prime Minister.
- A recent poll shows 60% of Polish citizens oppose Ukraine's EU membership bid.
The European Parliament has approved an amendment criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to rename an elite military unit after the World War II-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The move has reignited diplomatic tensions with Poland, which associates the UPA with the 1943-45 Volyn massacre where tens of thousands of Poles were killed.
A large majority of MEPs voted in favor of the amendment, which expressed regret over the "recent unnecessary and unprovoked escalation" by the Ukrainian president, despite Poland's consistent support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion. The amendment was co-sponsored by Polish MEP Andrzej Halicki and German MEP Michael Gahler.
While the UPA is commemorated in Ukraine for its role in opposing Soviet rule, Poland views it as responsible for the Volyn massacre, a designation Ukraine rejects. In response to Zelenskyy's decision, Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked Zelenskyy's Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honor.
The diplomatic dispute also affected the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, where Zelenskyy was replaced by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. A recent poll suggests that 60% of Polish citizens now oppose Ukraine's EU membership bid.
MEPs stated that Zelenskyy's decision "undermines neighbourly relations" and is "not in line with European values," calling for de-escalation and reconciliation. Despite the criticism, the Parliament's resolution reiterated support for Ukraine's accession to the EU, recognizing it as a strategic priority.