Donald Tusk. photo by Getty Images
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk placed responsibility on the Ukrainian side for resolving tensions in Polish-Ukrainian relations after the decision to assign the SSO unit the name “Heroes of the UPA”.
Source: Tusk, returning from Tivat in Montenegro, where he participated in the EU-Western Balkans summit, reports “European truth” with reference to RMF24
Details: The Polish Prime Minister characterized the situation as “absolutely unnecessary conflict of historical interpretations”.
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“The Ukrainian side itself led to this problem, so let it now look for a solution. Currently, negotiations between my people and the head of President Zelenskyi’s office, Mr. Budanov, are ongoing (…). Currently, all responsibility lies with the Ukrainian side to somehow settle this completely unnecessary conflict of historical interpretations,” Tusk said.
The Prime Minister’s statement is a consequence of the fact that Volodymyr Zelenskyi awarded an honorary title “in the name of the Heroes of the UPA” to the separate special operations center “North” of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which caused a wave of indignation in Poland. President Karol Navrotsky has already announced that he wants this decision get rid of Zelenskyi Order of the White Eagle. This oldest and highest state award of the Republic of Poland was presented to Zelenskiy by President Andrzej Duda.
“After this accident, which was the decision announced by President Zelensky, I fully understood the reaction of President Navrotsky. I might have reacted differently,” the prime minister said on board the plane.
“Everyone has their own national sensitivities, and I understand that Ukrainians will honor the memory of those who fought against the Soviet invader, but I would not understand if at the same time they wanted to honor those who killed the Poles – the closest allies (…). The support and assistance of Poland and other European states, but especially Poland, for Ukraine is something that our neighbors should pay close attention to. Perhaps these arguments will reach Kyiv. no, it will mean that not empathy, but hard business will define our relationship,” continued Donald Tusk.
In the context of Ukraine’s possible accession to the European Union, the Prime Minister noted that “Poland and the EU adhere to the position that everyone who wants to join the European community must meet the necessary criteria.”
What preceded: Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki on Friday met with the head of the President’s Office of Ukraine Kyryll Budanov, the conversation mainly concerned the scandal surrounding the naming of the SSO unit in honor of the Heroes of the UPA.
The Minister of Defense of Poland Władysław Kosyniak-Kamysh earlier addressed the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi from please review his decision on assigning the SSO unit named after the Heroes of the UPA.
