Zelensky confirms attendance at Gdansk conference despite dispute over UPA heroes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is still set to attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk despite recent tensions between Poland and Ukraine over the naming of a special forces unit after heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), according to a Polish government source.

The source told Rzeczpospolita that Poland's Foreign Ministry received an official note from Ukraine on Tuesday confirming Zelensky's participation in the conference scheduled for June 25–26. Previously, the visit had been in doubt due to diplomatic strains caused by Ukraine's decision to name a military unit after UPA fighters, which many in Poland view as provocative.

Polish official Pawel Kowal, responsible for Ukraine's reconstruction, emphasized that the event is a joint project of both countries, and therefore both sides are interested in its success. The conference, which will be held in Poland for the first time, is expected to gather up to five thousand participants, including heads of state, politicians, and business representatives.

Meanwhile, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who proposed stripping Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, has not rushed to do so. His spokesperson Rafał Leszkiewicz stated that the president is waiting for Ukraine to correct the "mistake" regarding the unit's naming.

This conference is part of the international process for Ukraine's recovery, previously held in Lugano, Berlin, London, and Rome.