WWII Historical Dispute: Zelenskyy and 3 Former Presidents Return Polish Orders

(CNA Kyiv, June 20 - Reuters) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced today that he has returned a national order previously awarded to him by Poland, following the Polish President's statement yesterday that the honor had been revoked due to disputes over events during World War II.

Reuters reported that three former Ukrainian presidents also stated they would return national orders awarded to them by Poland, with several other high-ranking officials taking similar actions.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki stated on June 19 that he had revoked the Order of the White Eagle, awarded to Zelenskyy in 2023, because Zelenskyy had renamed a military unit in honor of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, accused of massacring Poles during World War II.

The dispute over the historical role of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army could deepen the diplomatic rift between these two close strategic partners. Kyiv is currently actively rallying allies to pressure Russia and attempt to end the war of aggression against Ukraine, which has been ongoing for over four years.

Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X: "We have always believed that the Order of the White Eagle awarded in 2023 was a tribute to the Ukrainian people and our army. That is what was said at the time. Today, I have sent this order back to the President of Poland."

Zelenskyy also posted a photo showing the order being packed into a box, ready to be sent to the Presidential Palace of Poland.

He stated that Ukraine is grateful for Poland's support and pledged that Kyiv will "remain open to all forms of meaningful interaction to avoid contradictory interpretations of difficult and painful chapters in our common history."

Former Ukrainian Presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko also announced they would return the Order of the White Eagle they received, citing that the dispute is damaging their past efforts to improve relations with Poland. (Compiled by Chen Yuting) 1150621

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