The President of Poland has stripped Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle
Kyiv • UNN
Karol Nawrocki decided to strip Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle due to his consent to awarding the title of "Heroes of the UPA" to a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The President of Poland emphasized that this does not change support for Ukraine, but is a warning about the limits in bilateral relations.
President of Poland Karol Nawrocki has 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, reports UNN.
The President of the Republic of Poland is the Grand Master of the Order of the White Eagle and is obliged to uphold the honor of this highest state award. This duty also lies with the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle. Therefore, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to award one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the title "Heroes of the UPA", following consultations with the Chapter, I decided to strip the President of Ukraine of the Order of the White Eagle
He emphasized that this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people. It does not constitute a change in the strategic direction of Polish security policy.
We have supported and continue to support Ukraine because we know that Russian aggression poses a threat to the security of Poland and all of Europe. Nothing has changed in this assessment. Russia is the aggressor, and Putin is a criminal responsible for starting a war that has brought Europe the largest armed conflict since the end of World War II. Behind every bombed residential quarter, behind every child forced to flee war, behind every family separated by violence, stands a decision made in the Kremlin
Decyzja Prezydenta RP Karola Nawrockiego w sprawie odebrania Orderu Orła Białego Prezydentowi Ukrainy Wołodymyrowi Zełenskiemu. pic.twitter.com/8gr1iRhM3y
— Kancelaria Prezydenta RP (@prezydentpl) June 19, 2026
According to him, Ukraine has the right to defend its independence, and Poland remains a defender of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Poland, as before, is ready to cooperate with Ukraine. Poland remains committed to dialogue. However, Poland will consistently protect the memory of its citizens and the dignity of its state symbols. Poland will defend its national interests and values. Poland will not allow the glorification of those who killed defenseless Polish civilians
He added that "Ukraine's path to European structures also requires a willingness to honestly look at the difficult pages of its own history. A united Europe was built on the rejection of totalitarianism and the cult of violence. These principles must apply to everyone. Those who do not understand this cannot have a place in the European Union, and Poland will certainly not allow it."
Ukraine should also remember that nothing serves the interests of the Kremlin more than a conflict between Poles and Ukrainians. Any dispute over historical memory weakens our peoples and strengthens those who want to divide and conquer Europe. In our shared history, there are symbols of real, invaluable cooperation in the fight against the common threat of aggressive empires. Hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny in the 17th century, Hetman Pylyp Orlyk in the 18th century, and Otaman Symon Petliura in the 20th century. These figures are a good and wise foundation for building a culture of memory and harmony between our peoples. We need such cooperation. Unfortunately, strengthening a memory stained by crime does not create, but on the contrary, harms and destroys our relations. Therefore, today's decision is not only symbolic. It is also a warning. In Polish-Ukrainian relations, there are limits that cannot be crossed. It is also a call to our neighbors: to return to the path of truth and mutual respect