The policy of Polish President Karol Navrocki resembles the course of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, which can only have negative consequences, believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees in the actions of his Polish counterpart Karol Navrocki an attempt to replicate the course that was long pursued by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Zelensky made the corresponding statement in an interview with the program "TSN. Week," which aired on Sunday, June 21.
"This is what Orbán did. A bad story. I believe it will end badly," noted the Ukrainian leader. Earlier, Navrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle - Poland's highest state award.
Zelensky linked the incident to the intensification of internal political struggles in Poland. "I see this as an exclusively electoral process. They have prime ministerial elections in 2027," the Ukrainian politician reminded. "President Karol is fighting for the prime minister's chair so that his party wins against Prime Minister (Donald - Ed.) Tusk. We have nothing to do with this; it is their internal issue," he added.
"Neighbors Should Be Partners"
Zelensky warned the Polish political elite against using hate speech to boost ratings, as this could undermine good neighborly relations between the nations in the long term.
The President of Ukraine noted that Poles and Ukrainians are neighbors, and if neighbors are not partners, the situation over the years will resemble that which already exists in relations between Kyiv and the Russians. It will be about "disrespect, aggression, radicalization of society," he added.
"Without Ukraine, No One Can Protect Poland"
The artificial inflaming of public sentiments and attempts to "earn political points" through hatred is a misguided path that threatens dangerous escalation, believes the head of the Ukrainian state.
Zelensky also reminded of the geopolitical reality that should take precedence over historical disputes. "Without Ukraine, no one can protect Poland. It is simply impossible. If there is no Ukraine, there is no protected Poland," the Ukrainian leader believes.
Reason for the Conflict Between Warsaw and Kyiv
The diplomatic scandal was triggered by Zelensky's decree of May 26, which granted the honorary title "Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) to a separate center for special operations "North." In Poland, this decision provoked sharp criticism due to the involvement of UPA fighters in the Volhynian massacre of 1943-1944, which claimed the lives of an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 Poles and 20,000 to 30,000 Ukrainians.
After Navrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle - Poland's highest state award, which he received from former President Andrzej Duda - Zelensky sent the order back to Warsaw by mail. Following him, the second President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and the third President of the country - Viktor Yushchenko - also refused the award.
Later, former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko also announced his refusal of the Polish Order of the White Eagle. Poroshenko called Navrocki's decision "mistaken and unjust towards the Ukrainian people."
