Polish President to Decide ‘In Due Time’ On Stripping Zelensky of Top Honor

Key Points:

• Polish President Karol Nawrocki will decide whether to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s highest state honor after receiving advice from a presidential council, following Zelensky’s decree honoring a Ukrainian unit linked to the controversial Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
• The UPA is associated with massacres of Poles during World War II, and Zelensky’s decision to name a Special Operations Forces unit after the “Heroes of the UPA” has sparked tensions between Poland and Ukraine despite their strong alliance against Russia.
• Nawrocki, a nationalist with a history background, initiated the review of Zelensky’s award, the Order of the White Eagle, which was granted in April 2023 for strengthening bilateral ties; any revocation would require the Polish Prime Minister’s countersignature, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk reportedly reluctant to escalate tensions.
• The dispute highlights competing historical narratives: Poland views the UPA’s actions as genocide against Polish civilians, while many Ukrainians regard the UPA as fighters for independence against Soviet oppression; Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has called for unity to avoid divisions benefiting Russia.
• Stripping Zelensky of the honor would represent a significant diplomatic rupture between Poland and Ukraine amid ongoing cooperation against Russian aggression.