Another Ukrainian ex-president refuses Polish Order of the White Eagle; Poroshenko joins Kuchma and Yushchenko

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced he is refusing the Polish Order of the White Eagle in response to Polish President Karol Nawrocki's decision to revoke the award from current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Earlier on Saturday, June 20, second President Leonid Kuchma and third President Viktor Yushchenko also took this step.

Poroshenko stated on social media that in both his and Zelenskyy's cases, the award was given not to heads of state but to Ukrainians and their soldiers defending Ukraine, Poland, and all of Europe. He said he made this decision after promising colleagues two weeks ago to do so if they failed to convince Nawrocki not to make a wrong decision.

The ex-president emphasized that his refusal is not directed against the Polish people but is a political gesture. He warned that Russia, through its influence agents and historical wounds, is trying to destroy logistics in the west, so any crisis between Kyiv and Warsaw is a security issue. Poroshenko called for an immediate resolution of the conflict, not its escalation, and proposed starting to seek solutions from Monday to turn the crisis into a new stage of partnership.

Background: On the evening of June 19, Polish President Nawrocki stripped Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle, citing the naming of a Ukrainian unit after the UPA and stating that Poland would not allow EU entry for those who do not understand the need to abandon the "cult of totalitarianism and violence." Subsequently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar, and Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov returned their Polish awards. On Saturday, Zelenskyy said he sent the order back to Nawrocki by mail.