Photo: depositphotos
Warsaw is also reportedly unwilling to soften its position.
Earlier, Wirtualna Polska reported that Ukraine might reconsider its decision to grant the Special Operations Forces unit “North” the honorary title “Named after the Heroes of the UPA”, a move that sparked a diplomatic dispute between Kyiv and Warsaw. However, Liga.net, citing sources close to intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, has denied those claims.
“The information published by the Polish press does not correspond to reality,” a source said, commenting on the Wirtualna Polska report, which had also noted that Warsaw was unwilling to make any concessions on the issue.
According to journalist and media researcher Petro Katerynych, the final decision by Polish President Karol Nawrocki on whether to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Poland’s highest state distinction, the Order of the White Eagle, will not depend solely on the recommendation of the award’s chapter. Any such move would also require the signature of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The controversy stems from Zelenskyy’s decision to approve the honorary designation for the SOF unit, reportedly at the initiative of the special forces personnel themselves.
Tusk has reportedly concluded that diplomatic efforts between the two countries have not produced results and believes a direct, candid meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Poland is needed to address the issue.
More details on the dispute were outlined by Katerynych in his article “The Order of Discord: Anatomy of a Political Demarche.”
