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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called on Ukraine to take concrete steps to reduce tensions in bilateral relations, saying Warsaw expects a clear signal from Kyiv following a controversial decision to honour a Ukrainian military unit with a name linked to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
Speaking at a press conference, Tusk said he had received several messages from current and former Ukrainian politicians, including a letter from former President Viktor Yushchenko, urging both countries to continue working together on difficult historical issues.
According to Tusk, Poland welcomes dialogue about the past but expects reciprocal efforts from Ukraine.
“We expect Ukraine to take the first step after what we consider an unfortunate decision by President Volodymyr Zelensky. It would be good to hear a very clear signal from Kyiv,” Tusk said.
The dispute escalated after President Volodymyr Zelensky granted the Independent Special Operations Centre of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” in late May.
The decision drew criticism from Polish officials because the UPA remains a highly sensitive issue in Poland due to the Volhynia tragedy of 1943. Poland officially recognises the killings as genocide, while many Ukrainian historians describe the events as part of a broader bilateral conflict during the Second World War.
The issue intensified further after Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced he would revoke Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle. According to the report, the Ukrainian president returned the award to Poland the following day.
Tusk also warned that Russia continues to exploit historical disputes between the two countries. Ukrainian authorities have previously accused the FSB of preparing disinformation campaigns using forged historical documents to fuel tensions over the Volhynia tragedy.
Despite the disagreements, the Polish prime minister reiterated that Warsaw remains committed to supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression.
