Poland and Ukraine Seek to Ease Historical Tensions in Warsaw Talks

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Poland and Ukraine endeavored to ease tensions regarding their disputed wartime history during discussions held in Warsaw on Friday. The ministry stated that truth, respect, and the commemoration of victims remain fundamental to their bilateral relations.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski met with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sebih amid renewed disputes that arose in May. The controversy followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to award an honorary title to a military unit named "Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army," a group honored by Kyiv for its role in resisting Soviet rule after World War II.

From Kyiv’s perspective, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fought for Ukraine’s independence. However, in Poland, this army is associated with the killing of tens of thousands of Poles in 1944 during the German occupation in what is now western Ukraine.

This move provoked anger in Poland, where President Karol Norucki revoked the highest Polish award previously granted to Zelenskyy, escalating the dispute despite reservations expressed by the government.

Sebih proposed measures to manage the crisis, including consultations between the foreign ministries, discussions among historians, and involvement of church leaders. He also confirmed that Polish experts could continue searching for burial sites in the Volhynia region in western Ukraine.

He emphasized Kyiv’s position that each side must respect the other’s history and sovereignty.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that good bilateral relations serve the interests of both countries but require "reciprocity" from Kyiv. He added that the situation cannot be one where Warsaw alone demonstrates goodwill.