Poland’s president Andrzej Duda has officially revoked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle, the country’s highest honor, in response to disputes over World War II history. The decision follows Ukraine’s naming of a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group accused of collaborating with Nazi forces and implicated in atrocities against Polish civilians during the war, according to The Independent and France 24.
The move deepens diplomatic tensions between the two countries, which have struggled to reconcile their differing historical narratives related to wartime events. Poland's government argues that honoring figures associated with the UPA insults Polish victims, and France 24 reports that Warsaw has repeatedly called on Ukraine to condemn the actions of these groups explicitly.
The Straits Times notes that the withdrawal of the award comes amid broader challenges in Polish-Ukrainian relations, including disputes over shared history and national memory, which complicate ongoing cooperation during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. DW News highlights that Poland has expressed no intentions of restoring the award unless Kyiv revises its position on commemorations tied to the UPA.
Daily Sabah adds that the Polish government sees the revocation as part of asserting its narrative of historical justice, while Bangkok Post underscores that this step signals an escalation likely to affect joint diplomatic and military efforts. Further steps by Poland could include additional diplomatic measures or calls for Ukraine to address wartime legacy issues more decisively.
Observers will be watching closely how Ukraine’s government reacts to Poland's demands and whether this dispute will influence broader regional alliances or affect military collaboration against Russian aggression. The resolution of this conflict may shape Eastern European diplomatic dynamics in the coming months.
