Polish President Karol Nawrocki has decided to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle and stated that Poland will not allow those who do not understand the need to abandon the “cult of totalitarianism and violence” to join the EU. Nawrocki announced this on the evening of June 19 in a video message posted on the X social network, reports “European Pravda“. The PromPolitInform portal informs.
In his speech lasting almost 13 minutes, Nawrocki stated that the Order of the White Eagle is not an ordinary award, but a symbol of the highest trust of Poland, which means a special connection with the Polish state and special gratitude of the people.
“Such a symbol requires not only merit, but also respect for the values that form the foundation of our community… Therefore, given the consent of President Volodymyr Zelensky to assign one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the title of “Heroes of the UPA”, after consultations with the chapter, I have decided to deprive the President of Ukraine of the Order of the White Eagle,” said Nawrocki. As Polish media emphasize, the approval of Prime Minister Donald Tusk is necessary for this decision to come into force.
In his speech, Nawrocki emphasized that this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not mean a change in the strategic direction of Polish security policy.
“We supported and support Ukraine, because we know that Russian aggression poses a threat to the security of Poland and all of Europe. Nothing has changed in this assessment. Russia is the aggressor, and Putin is a criminal who is responsible for unleashing the war, which has become the largest armed conflict for Europe since the end of World War II. Behind every bombed residential area, behind every child forced to flee the war, behind every family separated by violence, there is a decision made in the Kremlin,” the Polish leader said.
Nawrocki stressed that Ukraine has the right to defend its independence, and Poland remains the defender of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, according to him, Poland will consistently protect the memory of its citizens and the dignity of its own state symbols and “will not agree to the heroization of those who killed defenseless Polish civilians.” The PromPolitInform portal informs.
“Ukraine’s path to European structures also requires a willingness to honestly face the difficult pages of its own history. A united Europe was built on the rejection of totalitarianism and the cult of violence. These principles should be mandatory for everyone. For those who do not understand this, there can be no place in the European Union, and Poland will certainly not allow this,” the Polish president said.
Nawrocki also emphasized that for the vast majority of Polish society, the UPA remains, first and foremost, a group responsible for brutal crimes committed against Polish citizens, and the position of the Polish state on this issue has been known for many years.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that President Volodymyr Zelensky did not want to intentionally offend Poland by assigning the Ukrainian unit the title “Heroes of the UPA”, but, according to Tusk, the Ukrainian side lacks sensitivity.
