Second President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma announced his refusal of the Polish Order of the White Eagle, which he was awarded in 1997. He made this decision after the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, stripped President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy of this award, writes UNN citing a statement released by Kuchma Foundation press secretary Darka Olifer.
Details
Kuchma recalled that during his presidency, he considered the development of friendly relations with Poland one of his main priorities. According to him, together with then-President of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski, they worked to overcome historical contradictions between the two nations.
"We forgive and ask for forgiveness – this is the principle that President Kwaśniewski and I developed under the spiritual mediation of the great Pole, Pope John Paul II,"
Kuchma urged not to place the past above the future
The former president emphasized that the friendship between Ukraine and Poland has become a reality, confirmed by the assistance Warsaw has provided to Kyiv since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.
At the same time, Kuchma stated that he cannot remain a knight of the Polish order after the latest decision of the Polish authorities.
"It was not for Ukraine to take on the fight against Russia, which justified its invasion with historical claims, so that today other countries dictate our history to us and decide whom we should honor,"
Kuchma expressed hope that the allied relations between Ukraine and Poland will be preserved.
"We must remember history. However, the past cannot be more important than the future. Ukraine and Poland need each other more than ever. Politicians of both countries must realize this,"
Reminder
President of Poland Karol Nawrocki decided to strip President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle and emphasized that there are limits in Polish-Ukrainian relations that cannot be crossed.
The decision was made after Nawrocki stated that he is critical of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to name a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces unit after the "Heroes of the UPA".
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave one of the Special Operations Forces units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the name "Heroes of the UPA" at the end of May.
The Order of the White Eagle was presented to Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023 by then-President of Poland Andrzej Duda.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha called the decision to strip the President of Ukraine of the Order of the White Eagle a strategic mistake by the President of Poland and added that he would return his Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
The Office of the President commented on the decision of President of Poland Karol Nawrocki to strip President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the previously awarded Polish Order of the White Eagle. Head of the OP Kyrylo Budanov called it a "gift for the Moscow aggressor," added that Ukraine will assess this event, and refused his own Polish award.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Bodnar stated that he is returning his Polish award amid the decision of President of Poland Karol Nawrocki to strip President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Polish Order of the White Eagle, while the diplomat called for "a frank conversation."