Polish President Revokes Order of the White Eagle from Zelenskyy
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has decided to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle after he agreed to name a Ukrainian military unit after the 'Heroes of the UPA'. Nawrocki stressed that the move is not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not change Poland's security policy.
On June 19, Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced his decision to revoke the highest Polish decoration, the Order of the White Eagle, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The decision came after Zelenskyy consented to naming one of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the 'Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)', a historical group that has contentious ties with Poland.
In a nearly 13-minute address on social media platform X, Nawrocki emphasized that the Order of the White Eagle is not an ordinary award but a symbol of the highest trust, which requires not only merit but also respect for shared values. He stated that he had consulted with the order's chapter before making the decision.
Nawrocki also clarified that this step is not aimed against the Ukrainian people and does not alter Poland's strategic security direction. 'We have supported and continue to support Ukraine, as we know that Russian aggression poses a threat to the security of Poland and all of Europe. This assessment has not changed. Russia is the aggressor, and Putin is a criminal responsible for starting a war that is the largest armed conflict in Europe since the end of World War II,' the Polish leader said.
The revocation has drawn significant attention, as Zelenskyy received the Order of the White Eagle in April 2023 from then-President Andrzej Duda in recognition of Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion. The UPA issue remains historically sensitive between the two nations, as the UPA fought for Ukrainian independence but also committed massacres of Polish civilians.
