Relations between Poland and Ukraine have come under renewed strain after Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced the revocation of the country's highest state honor previously awarded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing a dispute rooted in World War II history.
The decision follows controversy surrounding Ukraine's move to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist movement whose actions during World War II remain a deeply sensitive issue in Poland.
In a statement announcing the move, Nawrocki said the honor could no longer be maintained following the decision to commemorate the UPA in an official military capacity. At the same time, he emphasized that the action was directed at the issue itself rather than the Ukrainian people and did not signal any change in Poland's broader security relationship with Ukraine.
The response from Kyiv was swift. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the decision as a strategic mistake, arguing that it risks undermining cooperation between two countries that have worked closely together since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have frequently argued that historical disputes should not overshadow present-day security challenges.
Despite remaining one of Ukraine's most important allies, Poland has experienced growing public debate over its relationship with its eastern neighbour.
The timing of the decision is particularly significant, coming shortly before an international reconstruction conference scheduled to take place in the Polish city of Gdańsk.
Observers warn that the dispute could complicate diplomatic relations at a time when both countries continue to cooperate on regional security, defense, and Ukraine's long-term recovery efforts.
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Poland’s President Nawrocki stripped his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy of the country’s highest state honor amid a row about commemorating fighters responsible for a World War II massacre https://t.co/zNtPg8YuCP
— Bloomberg (@business) June 19, 2026
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