Polish President Strips Zelenskyy of Order: "Poles' Pain Threshold Exceeded"

Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced on June 20 that he had revoked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Order of the White Eagle, speaking during the celebration of the National Day of the Silesian Uprisings. Nawrocki stated that Poles know what war and the Russian threat mean, but Zelenskyy's actions had crossed a "pain threshold."

He noted that throughout the 20th century, Poland was independent for only 31 years, spending the rest of the time resisting foreign domination. Nawrocki emphasized that Poles are a proud nation with their own limits regarding allies, and that limit had been exceeded.

The decision followed the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar, and Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Budanov announced they would return their Polish state awards. On June 20, Zelenskyy said he had sent the order back to Nawrocki by mail.