Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted that the escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Poland over the conferral of the honorary title "in the name of the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army" on one of the units of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is of no benefit to either Ukrainians or Poles. Sybiha made this statement on Facebook, according to the Ukrainian News agency.
The minister noted that over the course of nearly two years, Ukraine and Poland have gradually rebuilt a constructive dialogue, unblocked search and exhumation efforts, and resumed the historians’ congress, which paved the way for dialogue on sensitive issues and ultimately allowed both sides to hear one another.
"We must not undermine this dialogue or fuel the cycle of hatred. Especially now, when the threat from our age-old enemy, Russia, looms once again over all of us—Ukrainians, Poles, and other Europeans," he emphasized.
Sybiha noted that the unit’s name was chosen by Ukrainian military personnel, who deserve unconditional respect.
“I know for certain that our military had absolutely nothing anti-Polish on their minds. For them, it was about honoring those who, many years ago, fought against imperial Moscow, the Bolshevik-Communist occupation, and repression,” he noted.
The minister added that Ukraine is grateful to Poland for its leadership role in supporting the country during this terrible time of war and seeks to discuss all issues, including the most difficult ones, in a spirit of mutual understanding and openness.
He called on Poland to engage in dialogue and strengthen relations in line with the security priorities and a prosperous future for both nations.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on May 29, Polish President Karol Nawrocki proposed stripping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the country’s highest honor—the Order of the White Eagle—in response to Zelenskyy’s decision to name one of the Ukrainian units in the name of the “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.”
Former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa stated that he would no longer support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and publicly removed the Ukrainian flag from his chest due to the decision to name one of the Ukrainian units in the name of the “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Zelenskyy’s decision to name a unit in the name of the “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army" is cause for concern.
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