Key facts
- Poland's presidential office stated that awards are not revoked posthumously.
- A Polish official claimed President Zelensky insulted the Polish nation more overtly than historical figures or Gerhard Schroeder.
- Zelensky returned the Order of the White Eagle via courier.
- The award was revoked after Zelensky named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
- The UPA is associated with the Volyn massacres in Poland.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the dispute as a 'strategic mistake'.
A top Polish presidential aide, Agnieszka Jedrzak, explained on June 21 that Poland does not revoke the Order of the White Eagle posthumously for historical figures like Benito Mussolini or Catherine II. She stated that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, despite his ties to Russian energy companies, had not overtly insulted the Polish nation in the way Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had, leading to the revocation of his award.
Jedrzak clarified that while Poland supports Ukraine, it will not tolerate insults, stating, "You don't honor murderers of the nation that's given you every form of assistance when it mattered." President Karol Nawrocki revoked Zelensky's award on June 19 after the Ukrainian president named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a move that sparked significant diplomatic tension between Warsaw and Kyiv.
The UPA, active during World War II, is primarily remembered in Poland for its role in the Volyn massacres, where tens of thousands of Polish civilians were killed. Zelensky, who received the award in 2023 from then-President Andrzej Duda, returned the medal via courier on June 20. He drew parallels between Poland's decision and actions by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, suggesting that such disputes could lead to disrespect and aggression, similar to Russia's behavior.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk characterized the dispute as a "strategic mistake" and called for de-escalation, with the controversy occurring a year before Polish parliamentary elections.