Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko led Kyiv’s delegation to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk on Thursday as President Volodymyr Zelensky boycotted the landmark event, deepening a diplomatic rift with Poland over historical grievances tied to the Second World War. The conference, which opened in the Polish port city, marks the first time Zelensky has missed the annual gathering since its inception, a decision that underscores escalating tensions between the two wartime allies.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk opened the conference, calling for mutual respect and historical reconciliation to move past the dispute. “The future can only be built on truth,” Tusk told delegates in Gdańsk, stressing that reconstruction must also address shared historical understanding. “True unity in Europe requires acknowledging our past and the capacity for genuine reconciliation.”

Zelensky’s absence follows Poland’s decision to strip him of a state honour, a move that triggered weeks of diplomatic friction. The row centres on Zelensky’s recent praise for the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist group accused by Poland of participating in the wartime massacre of ethnic Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. Polish officials have condemned the glorification of the UPA, while Ukrainian leaders have defended the historical narrative as part of the country’s struggle against Soviet domination.

Despite the tensions, Svyrydenko struck a conciliatory tone in Gdańsk, avoiding any mention of the historical disagreements during her address. Her presence signals Kyiv’s determination to maintain cooperation on Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, even as political frictions persist. The conference, attended by European leaders including Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda, focuses on mobilising international support for Ukraine’s recovery amid stalled peace negotiations with Russia.

Analysts warn that the dispute risks complicating Poland’s role as a key backer of Ukraine, particularly as Warsaw seeks to balance historical sensitivities with its strategic alliance. Tusk’s emphasis on truth and reconciliation suggests a cautious effort to de-escalate, but the absence of Zelensky—who has framed the UPA’s legacy as integral to Ukraine’s identity—highlights the depth of the divide. The conference continues Friday, with delegates expected to discuss long-term funding mechanisms and infrastructure projects critical to Ukraine’s recovery.

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Poland, Ukraine strike conciliatory tone at reconstruction conference A landmark conference on Ukraines post-war reconstruction opened on Thursday in Poland without President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is snubbing the event over a diplomatic row with ally Warsaw and weeks of squabbling over historical differences. Kyiv sent Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko instead who struck a friendly tone and didnt mention the historical disagreements.

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