Former Prime Minister of Poland Leszek Miller criticized the return of Polish awards by Ukrainian politicians and stated that if Ukraine returns orders, it should also return the military equipment provided by official Warsaw. The Polish politician said this on Polsat News, as reported by UNN citing WP Wiadomości.
Details
Miller commented on the situation in the program "Presidents and Prime Ministers" on Polsat News. It concerned the wave of decisions by Ukrainian politicians to renounce Polish state decorations in solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
If everyone has gotten so carried away that they are returning what they received, then let them return the MiGs they received, the tanks, and the weapons. That would be a gesture, right?
Separately, Miller commented on Zelenskyy's statement that the Order of the White Eagle had been awarded to controversial historical figures in the past, so he has no intention of debating Nawrocki's decision.
According to the former Polish Prime Minister, Zelenskyy could have declined the award earlier if he had reservations due to the list of its previous recipients.
He could have not accepted this order because it was received by Catherine the Great, Benito Mussolini, and Gerhard Schröder. He should have said: no, no, since such people have this order, I thank you very much. But he accepted it and did not complain
The former head of the Polish government is convinced that the conflict was started by the Ukrainian side, recalling historical controversies surrounding the events of World War II, the OUN, and the UPA.
Context
Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced the stripping of Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle on Friday, June 19.
On Saturday, June 20, the Ukrainian president stated that he had returned the award.
Following this, former Ukrainian presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, Petro Poroshenko, as well as a number of Ukrainian officials, also renounced their Polish decorations.
In solidarity with Zelenskyy, Polish state awards were decided to be returned by, among others, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Kyrylo Budanov, Ihor Zhovkva, and Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar.
Reminder
Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman announced the return of the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, which he received in 2011. He made this decision in solidarity with Ukraine and President Zelenskyy.