Ukraine President Returns Polish Honour After Award Stripped

Ukraine's president has returned Poland's highest national honour after the Polish president revoked the award. The decision follows last month's renaming of a Ukrainian army unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, a World War Two group Poland accuses of killing about 100,000 ethnic Poles.

The Polish Order of the White Eagle had been awarded to the Ukraine president in 2023. Officials in Kyiv said the move was intended to honour fighters for Ukrainian independence.

Background to the Dispute Poland maintains the group carried out genocide against Polish civilians in 1943-45. Ukrainian officials view the same fighters as heroes who opposed Soviet and Nazi forces. The red-and-black flag associated with the group appears on Ukrainian front-line positions today.

The Polish president described the renaming as "outrageous" and said it hurt historical memory and recent trust. The same statement stressed that Poland's military support for Ukraine would continue unchanged. Poland's prime minister urged both leaders to reduce tensions, warning that any public feud would benefit Russia.

“For the overwhelming majority of Polish society, the UPA remains, above all, a formation responsible for the brutal crimes committed against citizens of the Republic of Poland during World War Two." — Polish president, video statement Ukraine's president posted that the country remained open to dialogue with Poland to address differing historical interpretations. The post also thanked Polish citizens for their support during the war. Three senior Ukrainian officials announced they were returning their own Polish awards in solidarity with their president. Ukraine began the first phase of European Union membership talks in Luxembourg this week.”