Polish President Nawrocki strips Zelensky of country's highest honour amid WW2 row
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he was revoking Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's highest Polish honour. The move escalates a historical dispute rooted in World War II–era massacres and complicates wartime cooperation with Kyiv.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said on Friday he was revoking the Order of the White Eagle previously bestowed on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The move followed Ukraine's decision to name an army unit after a wartime militia historically associated with massacres of Polish civilians.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had appealed earlier in the week to both nations not to 'waste' the solidarity built up since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv has yet to issue a formal response, but Ukraine's foreign ministry signalled that historical disputes should be channelled through diplomatic talks.
European Union and NATO officials urged both sides to keep the row from spilling into arms and ammunition flows. Polish media said Nawrocki's decision will probably weigh on a September military-aid package for Ukraine still under discussion in Warsaw.
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