Former Polish Foreign Minister: Stripping Zelensky of Order of the White Eagle Damaged Poland’s International Standing
Former Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz criticized President Nawrocki’s decision to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, stating that the move was ineffective and has weakened Poland’s international position.
Jacek Czaputowicz, who served as Poland’s foreign minister under the Law and Justice (PiS) government, sharply criticized President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to revoke Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle. Speaking on Polsat News, Czaputowicz argued that the move was counterproductive and undermined Poland’s international credibility.
Czaputowicz stated that Poland had lost the exchange of blows with Ukraine. He noted that Nawrocki’s action failed to pressure Ukraine into renaming a military unit after the "heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)" – the root cause of the dispute. "We did not win this exchange of blows," he said.
Although Polish public opinion, according to polls, supports the president’s decision, Czaputowicz warned that public sentiment often overlooks the complexities of international politics. He predicted that Poland’s global standing would decline: "We will be treated with suspicion. (...) We will not be invited to participate in various decisions concerning Ukraine. Our status, Poland’s international position, has significantly decreased, and after this move it will decrease even more."
The former minister also said that Western nations now perceive Poland as an obstacle to reaching agreements. He added that the insult to Zelensky would not motivate Ukraine to advocate for Poland’s seat at the negotiating table.
At the same time, Czaputowicz acknowledged that Ukraine’s decision to name a unit after UPA heroes was painful for Poland, given the genocide crimes in Volhynia. However, he insisted that Poland should have employed other diplomatic tools, such as a formal diplomatic note, summoning the ambassador, or a Sejm resolution, rather than stripping an award.
Czaputowicz concluded that Ukraine emerged victorious from the confrontation: it kept the unit’s name and returned the orders – not only Zelensky but also other senior officials. He also expressed concern over uncertainty regarding Zelensky’s attendance at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, stating that if Zelensky does not come, it would be a humiliation for Poland.
