Kaczyński calls on Poland to block negotiations on Ukraine's accession to EU
Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the Polish opposition party "Law and Justice," called on the Polish government to block negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. He also accused Kyiv of straining relations with Warsaw.
It was reported by the Financial Times.
Two days earlier, Kaczyński announced that he would return a medal he had received from Ukraine. According to him, this move is directed “not so much at Ukrainians as at the Ukrainian elite.” He also accused Kyiv of “violently escalating” the “war of orders” between Ukraine and Poland.
Kaczyński’s position differs from that of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. On the same day, June 25, Tusk opened the two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Gdańsk, which concluded with the signing of 160 agreements totaling more than EUR 10 billion.
The publication also notes that “Law and Justice” is likely already preparing for the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2027 in Poland. According to the Financial Times, Kaczyński is seeking to secure the support of Polish farmers, who are concerned about imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, as well as voters who are increasingly worried about the costs of hosting Ukrainian refugees.
What is known about Poland’s decision regarding Zelenskyy?
On June 19, Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced the revocation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle—Poland’s highest state honor, which the Ukrainian president had received from Andrzej Duda.
As reported, this decision was preceded by a decree from Volodymyr Zelenskyy conferring an honorary name in honor of the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) on the “North” Special Operations Center of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Following Warsaw’s decision, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Chief of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov, and Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar also decided to renounce their Polish awards.
Second President Leonid Kuchma, third President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, and fifth President Petro Poroshenko announced their refusal of the Polish Order of the White Eagle after Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Volodymyr Zelenskyy of this award.
On June 20, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had sent the Order of the White Eagle back to Warsaw, noting that he had received the award in 2023 on behalf of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian army.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki explained the decision to revoke Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle, stating that it had exceeded the “pain threshold” of Polish society.
The Order of the White Eagle is not revoked posthumously; therefore, the award remains with Benito Mussolini and Catherine II, and the actions of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder do not constitute grounds for revoking the honor.