Warsaw: A growing diplomatic dispute between Poland and Ukraine has deepened after a senior Ukrainian official announced he was giving up a Polish state honor in response to Warsaw's decision to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of one of Poland's highest awards.
The latest disagreement has brought renewed attention to painful memories from World War Two and highlighted how historical issues continue to affect relations between two countries that have been close allies since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On Friday, Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelenskyy's office, said he would return the Golden Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The award had been given to him in recognition of his efforts to strengthen relations between the two neighboring countries.
Yermak's decision came a day after Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced that Zelenskyy would be stripped of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honor. The move was linked to Ukraine's decision to grant an honorary title to a military unit named after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, known as the UPA.
The UPA remains one of the most controversial organizations in Eastern European history. In Ukraine, many people view the group as a symbol of resistance and a force that fought for national independence during and after World War Two. In Poland, however, the organization is widely blamed for the killings of tens of thousands of Polish civilians in the regions of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during the war.
Poland has long argued that the massacres carried out by UPA fighters amounted to genocide. The issue remains deeply emotional for many Polish families and continues to shape public opinion and political debate in the country.
In a statement, Yermak criticized Poland's decision and said it would only benefit Russia by creating divisions between allies. He argued that difficult historical questions should be addressed through dialogue, research and mutual understanding rather than through symbolic political actions.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also expressed disappointment over Warsaw's move. He said the decision risked damaging relations between two nations that have worked closely together in recent years on security, humanitarian assistance and support for Ukraine's defense against Russia.
The dispute comes at a sensitive time for both countries. Poland has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters since the start of the war, providing military equipment, humanitarian aid and political backing. Millions of Ukrainian refugees also found shelter in Poland after fleeing the conflict.
Despite this strong partnership, tensions have occasionally emerged over issues such as agricultural imports, refugee policies and historical interpretations of World War Two events. Analysts say the latest disagreement is one of the most visible diplomatic clashes between the two governments since the war began.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged both sides to avoid escalating the situation. He has warned that public disputes between Warsaw and Kyiv could weaken regional unity and ultimately serve Russia's interests.
Political observers note that while the exchange of honors is largely symbolic, it reflects deeper disagreements over historical memory and national identity. Such issues have often proved difficult to resolve because they involve events that continue to shape how both nations view their past.
For now, leaders in both countries have stressed that cooperation on security and defense will continue. However, the latest dispute shows that even strong allies can face serious challenges when unresolved historical grievances resurface.
As Poland and Ukraine navigate this difficult chapter, many diplomats hope that dialogue and cooperation will help prevent historical disagreements from overshadowing their shared strategic interests and common challenges in the region.