Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is taking steps to repair relations with Poland following a dispute over naming a military unit after World War Two fighters who killed Poles. Zelenskiy pledged to expand investigations into the killings and open intelligence files.
The dispute highlights the complex historical grievances that can strain relations between allies, even amidst shared geopolitical challenges like the war in Ukraine. Repairing ties is crucial for maintaining unified support for Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is seeking to mend relations with Poland following a dispute over his decision to name a Ukrainian army unit in honour of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group responsible for the mass killing of Poles during World War Two. Zelenskiy chaired a meeting of senior officials focused on relations with Poland, pledging to expand investigations into the historical killings and open intelligence files.
Historians estimate that the UPA and allied nationalist forces killed between 70,000 and 100,000 Poles in the Volhynia region from 1943 to 1945, aiming to remove the population from future Ukrainian territory. Thousands of Ukrainians also died in reprisal killings. Zelenskiy stated that improved ties were critical given Poland's significant support for Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. He also committed to further efforts in exhuming victims, expanding dialogue, and supporting a Ukrainian history institute.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki had previously revoked Zelenskiy's top Polish honour in response to the naming plan. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed Zelenskiy's recent comments, expressing readiness for dialogue on issues that unite and divide the two nations. However, Ukrainian officials have not indicated any intention to rescind the decision to name the army unit after the UPA, asserting Ukraine's prerogative to choose its own heroes.