Key facts
- Poland's presidential office stated awards are not revoked posthumously.
- Poland's presidential office stated Zelensky's actions insulted the Polish nation.
- Zelensky returned an award amid a dispute over a Ukrainian military unit's name.
- Polish President Andrzej Duda was not invited to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk.
- A presidential aide confirmed Duda's absence from the conference.
- Kyiv stated the invitation process is an internal Polish matter.
- Relations between Poland and Ukraine are deteriorating.
- Historical grievances are contributing to the diplomatic tensions.
Poland's presidential office has clarified the reasons behind revoking an award previously given to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The office stated that awards are not revoked posthumously, implying a distinction in how Zelensky's situation is being handled compared to historical figures. According to the statement, Zelensky's actions were perceived as an insult to the Polish nation, a justification not applied to historical figures or former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. This decision comes amidst a dispute where Zelensky returned the award, reportedly linked to the naming of a Ukrainian military unit.