Tusk warns of strategic mistake in Poland-Ukraine dispute
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that the conflict between Polish and Ukrainian politicians over a World War II army unit is a strategic mistake harming both sides. Meanwhile, Crimea has suspended civilian gasoline sales following Ukrainian strikes on fuel facilities.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged an end to tensions between Poland and Ukraine that escalated after Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the country's highest honor. The move came after Zelenskyy renamed a Ukrainian army unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), nationalists who massacred Poles during World War II. Three former Ukrainian presidents and several officials returned their Polish state awards in solidarity.
Tusk wrote on social media platform X that such a conflict is a strategic mistake that will harm both countries in business, geopolitical, and reputational terms, adding that a political mistake is worse than a crime. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine and Poland cannot be anything but partners and friends, warning that political struggle could lead to a dangerous escalation. He defended his decision to support the soldiers' chosen name for their unit.
Separately, Ukrainian strikes on fuel infrastructure have caused a severe fuel crisis in Crimea. The Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea reported four killed and 28 wounded from Ukrainian attacks. Authorities have suspended gasoline sales to civilians, reserving fuel for government agencies. This is the worst fuel shortage since Crimea's 2014 annexation. Social networks are filled with requests for fuel, and speculators are selling at double the market price.
Zelenskyy described the strikes as part of Ukraine's long-range sanctions against Russia's energy infrastructure, stating that Russia understands only strength and that these actions work for peace. Meanwhile, overnight Russian strikes in eastern Ukraine killed three people. Ukraine has recently intensified drone attacks on Russian energy facilities, including hitting a large refinery in Moscow twice last week. Some Russian petrol stations have introduced fuel rationing this month, and fuel exports have been banned since April. Energy Intelligence, a US-based research firm, said about a third of Russian oil refining capacity has gone offline due to Ukrainian strikes.
