The Office of the President of Poland, headed by Karol Nawrocki, has responded to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to return the Order of the White Eagle. Agnieszka Jędżak, Minister of the President’s Office, commented on the insults inflicted by the Ukrainian leader.
- Poland has revoked Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle following his decree on the UPA.
- Agnieszka Jendzak compared Zelenskyy to German war criminals.
- Zelenskyy emphasised the importance of the award for Ukrainian-Polish relations.
- Poland will not tolerate insults, even from its allies.
- The conflict arose due to historical differences between Ukraine and Poland.
Poland has responded to Zelenskyy’s actions
The Office of the President of Poland Karol Navrotsky responded to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to return Order of the White Eagle. Minister for the Cabinet Office Agnieszka Jendzak She noted that the withdrawal of the award was in response to the insults levelled by the Ukrainian leader. She emphasised that the former German chancellor still holds this order Gerhard Schroeder, as he «has never insulted the Polish nation as openly as the President of Ukraine has».
Yendzhak argued that the Order of the White Eagle cannot be revoked from deceased recipients, citing examples Benito Mussolini and Catherine II. She also compared the fighters of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army to German SS units, who were convicted as war criminals.
«During Schröder’s time in office, no monuments were erected in Germany in honour of Hitler or Himmler,» added Jendzak.
This conflict escalated after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Order of the White Eagle to the President of Poland on 20 June. Zelenskyy stressed that this award is a symbol of the Polish state’s trust and the gratitude of its people, emphasising that Ukraine respects Poland’s contribution to the joint struggle against Russian aggression.
At the same time, he noted, that Ukraine will not contest decisions regarding honours if such symbols remain in the possession of figures such as Catherine the Great or Mussolini.
«We support Ukraine, but we will not allow ourselves to be insulted,» the Polish official concluded.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki had previously announced the withdrawal of the award following President Zelenskyy’s decree to name a unit of the Armed Forces after «UPA heroes», which many Poles still regard as the unit responsible for brutal crimes committed during the Second World War.
