Key facts
- Six Polish and Ukrainian media outlets issued a joint appeal on June 23, expressing concern over escalating tensions between their countries.
- The media outlets warned that the current crisis could benefit Russia by driving a wedge between Poles and Ukrainians.
- The diplomatic row was intensified by Ukraine naming a military unit after the World War II-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
- In response, Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked President Volodymyr Zelensky's highest state honor.
- The signatories emphasized that the time for historical reconciliation will come after Russia's defeat.
- The appeal highlighted the importance of continued Polish-Ukrainian solidarity against Russian aggression.
Six leading Polish and Ukrainian media outlets have issued an unprecedented joint appeal, warning that escalating tensions between their nations could undermine their crucial alliance against Russia. The appeal, published on June 23, comes amid a significant diplomatic rift sparked by Ukraine's decision to name a military unit after the World War II-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
This move led Polish President Karol Nawrocki to revoke President Volodymyr Zelensky's highest state honor, prompting several Ukrainian officials to return their own awards. The media signatories, including Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza and Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda, stated that while historical grievances are acknowledged, the immediate priority must be defeating Russia's aggression. They cautioned that current disputes are damaging public attitudes on both sides and playing into Moscow's hands by attempting to create division.
The dispute highlights differing historical interpretations of the UPA. While Ukraine views it as a resistance movement against foreign rule, Poland remembers it primarily for the 1943-1945 Volyn massacres, where thousands of Poles were killed in what is now western Ukraine. The media outlets urged politicians to exercise wisdom and seek mutual understanding, and for societies to resist manipulation and continue mutual support, emphasizing a shared future within the European Union.
Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski had previously called for careful commemoration of past conflicts in 2013, urging that such events not become instruments for inflaming relations. The current media appeal echoes this sentiment, placing the responsibility on contemporary leaders and citizens to navigate these challenges.