Key facts
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Karol Nawrocki met at the NATO summit in Ankara.
- This was their first meeting since public disagreements over historical issues, specifically the naming of a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
- The UPA's legacy is contentious in Poland due to some members' involvement in the mass killings of Poles during World War II.
- The naming decision led to Nawrocki revoking Zelensky's highest Polish honor, sparking a diplomatic exchange of returned medals.
- Nawrocki stated that despite the tensions, dialogue is essential and the common threat from Russia remains a priority.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Polish President Karol Nawrocki met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, marking their first encounter since public disagreements over historical grievances between the two nations.
Diplomatic tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw escalated after Zelensky designated a military unit with a name honoring the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) on May 26. The UPA, which fought for Ukrainian independence against the Soviets during and after World War II, has a contentious legacy in Poland due to some of its members' participation in the mass killings of Poles in then Nazi-occupied western Ukraine.
The UPA naming decision was met with significant public disapproval in Poland, leading President Nawrocki to strip Zelensky of Poland's highest honor. This action triggered a diplomatic tit-for-tat, with several politicians from both countries returning their respective medals and awards.
Zelensky had also been expected to attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk in June but instead sent Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Despite the ongoing bilateral tensions, Nawrocki stated following the Ankara meeting that dialogue is a natural part of diplomacy and that both nations recognize the common threat posed by the Russian Federation.
As of July 8, a day after Nawrocki indicated the meeting had occurred, Zelensky had not publicly mentioned it on Twitter, though he had posted about other meetings during the NATO summit. Dmytro Lytvyn, Zelensky's communications adviser, confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the two presidents spoke on the evening of July 7 and agreed to try to coordinate schedules for a meeting to take place.