Ukraine promises to 'mirror' all unfriendly actions of Poland
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Kyiv will respond in kind to any unfriendly steps by Poland, reacting to the Polish president's decision to strip Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle.
Sybiha: The time for ignoring is over
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday that Ukraine will 'mirror' any unfriendly actions by Poland, commenting on the recent escalation in bilateral relations.
'We have always been constructive, valued our relations with Poland, and been grateful for the help we received,' Sybiha said, adding that it is important not to politicize sensitive historical issues and leave them to historians.
He stressed that disrespect toward the President of Ukraine is disrespect toward the Ukrainian soldier, the Ukrainian people, and their right to have history. 'We will not tolerate this,' he said. 'We will mirror all steps, especially those that are unfriendly and contemptuous toward our country. The time for ignoring has passed.'
Sybiha noted that Polish President Karol Nawrocki has destroyed the positive progress achieved recently. 'It is no coincidence that he receives applause from Moscow,' the minister added.
At the same time, he called on Poles for restraint and diplomacy, saying that Ukraine talks daily with Polish friends on how to preserve the diplomatic track. 'We are united by common challenges, interests, and a common European future,' Sybiha stated.
Background
On the evening of June 19, Polish President Karol Nawrocki decided to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle due to one of the Ukrainian units being named in honor of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). On Saturday, June 20, Zelenskyy announced that he had sent the order back to Nawrocki by mail. All previous Ukrainian presidents who received the Polish Order of the White Eagle have also renounced it.
