Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s highest state honour, the Order of the White Eagle, on Friday, escalating a bitter dispute over historical memory that risks undermining Warsaw’s staunch support for Kyiv against Russia’s invasion.

Nawrocki announced the decision in response to Zelensky’s decree renaming a Ukrainian army unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist force accused of participating in massacres of ethnic Poles during and after the Second World War. “There are limits in Polish-Ukrainian relations that cannot be crossed,” Nawrocki said . The Polish presidency framed the move as a necessary defence of historical truth amid what it described as an attempt by Kyiv to glorify organisations responsible for wartime atrocities.

The revocation landed just days before Poland is scheduled to host the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference in Warsaw, an event designed to rally international support for Kyiv’s post-war reconstruction. Relations between the two countries have been tense for weeks, with Warsaw and Kyiv trading sharp statements over competing narratives of the Second World War. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he would return a Polish state award in protest, calling Nawrocki’s decision “reckless” and a “strategic mistake” that would “only benefit Moscow” .

Kyiv’s government condemned the move as an overreach that politicises shared wartime history. “No foreign president will dictate our history,” Sybiha told reporters, while Ukraine’s foreign ministry labelled the decision a breach of bilateral trust . Polish analysts warned the row could complicate military and humanitarian cooperation, despite Poland’s role as one of Ukraine’s most vocal backers since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. French newspaper *La Libre Belgique* described the move as “highly symbolic” and cautioned it could harm bilateral relations at a critical juncture .

The Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s oldest and most prestigious decoration, has been awarded to foreign leaders including US presidents and European monarchs. Its withdrawal from Zelensky marks an unprecedented rupture in Polish-Ukrainian ties and underscores the fragility of historical reconciliation between two nations locked in a geopolitical alliance against Moscow.

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Tensiuni între Polonia și Ucraina din cauza unei dispute istorice. Kievul denunţă o „eroare strategică şi o decizie „dispreţuitoare Ucraina a denunţat vineri o „eroare strategică şi o decizie „dispreţuitoare după anunţul făcut de preşedintele polonez Karol Nawrocki că retrage cea mai înaltă distincţie a ţării omologului său ucrainean, Volodimir Zelenski, pe fondul tensiunilor legate de istoria comună a celor două ţări.

digi24 · 14 days ago

Poľský prezident berie Zelenskému Rad Bielej orlice. Reaguje na poctu pre Ukrajinskú povstaleckú armádu Poľský prezident Karol Nawrocki odoberie Volodymyrovi Zelenskému Rad Bielej orlice. Rozhodnutie prehĺbilo napätie medzi Varšavou a Kyjevom aj na diplomatickej úrovni.

aktuality.sk · 14 days ago

Ukraine: Polen entzieht Wolodymyr Selenskyj höchsten Landesorden Der polnische Präsident hat dem ukrainischen Staatschef den Weißen-Adler-Orden aberkannt. Anlass ist ein Streit über die Benennung einer ukrainischen Militäreinheit.

die zeit · 14 days ago

Polish president decides to strip Ukraines Zelenskiy of top honour over WW2 dispute

news.yahoo.com · 14 days ago

Polish president strips Zelensky of honorary title over military unit controversy, as Kyiv calls decision strategic mistake #UkrainePolish president strips Zelens...

mastodon bot · 14 days ago

După SUA, Ucraina are „a doua cea mai puternică armată a NATO, afirmă Zelenski. Argumentul invocat Președintele ucrainean Volodimir Zelenski a calificat forțele armate ale țării sale drept practic a „doua cea mai puternică armată a NATO, a scris vineri agenția germană de presă DPA. Ucraina și-a dovedit capacitatea de a rezista agresiunii ruse și este un partener important pentru țările NATO, a afirmat liderul ucrainean într-o întâlnire cu presa, adăugând …

hotnews.ro · 14 days ago

Zelenski: Ucraina are practic „a doua cea mai puternică armată a NATO Preşedintele ucrainean Volodimir Zelenski a spus că forţele armate ale ţării sale sunt practic a „doua cea mai puternică armată a NATO", relatează dpa, citată de Agerpres.

digi24 · 14 days ago

Polish president decides to strip Zelensky of honour for naming unit after group that massacred Poles Ukraines foreign minister called it "reckless" and a "strategic mistake" that would "only benefit Moscow".

notes from poland · 14 days ago

Szef MSZ Ukrainy reaguje na decyzję Nawrockiego ws. orderu. Zwróci swoje odznaczenie Prezydent Karol Nawrocki poinformował w piątek, że podjął decyzję o odebraniu Orderu Orła Białego Wołodymyrowi Zełenskiemu. Do sprawy odniósł się już ukraiński minister spraw zagranicznych. "Żaden prezydent innego kraju nie będzie nam dyktował naszej historii" - podkreślił Andrij Sybiha.

gazeta.pl · 14 days ago

Nawrocki chce odebrać order Zełenskiemu. "Putin otwiera szampana" Prezydent Karol Nawrocki ogłosił w piątek, że zdecydował o odebraniu Orderu Orła Białego prezydentowi Ukrainy Wołodymyrowi Zełenskiemu. Pozytywnie decyzję polskiego polityka komentują m.in. przedstawiciele PiS-u i Konfederacji. Politycy obozu rządzącego oceniają jednak, że z takiego roku ucieszy się Moskwa.

gazeta.pl · 14 days ago

Polands president strips Ukraines Zelensky of top award Polands nationalist president Karol Nawrocki announced on Friday he was stripping Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky of the countrys top award, escalating a row between the neighbours and allies over World War II massacres. Relations between Warsaw and Kyiv have been tense for days over Zelenskys naming of a Ukrainian army unit after a WWII nationalist insurgent army that took part in massacres against Poles. Nawrockis decision landed days before Poland is due to host the annual Ukraine Recovery...

south china morning post · 14 days ago

Ukrainian foreign minister will return Polish state award after Poland strips Zelenskyy of top honourUkrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said he will return a high Polish state award after Polish President Karol Nawrocki decided to strip President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. #ukraine

mastodon bot · 14 days ago

Poola president teatas Zelenskõilt riigi kõrgeima autasu äravõtmisest Poola rahvusmeelne president Karol Nawrocki teatas reedel, et võtab Teise maailmasõja aegse veresauna üle puhkenud tüli tõttu Ukraina presidendilt Volodõmõr Zelenskõilt ära riigi kõrgeima autasu, teravdades sellega naabrite ja liitlaste vahelist tüli.

postimees · 14 days ago

Nawrocki odebere Zelenskému nejvyšší polský řád. ‚Litujeme, že převládly emoce, reagoval Sybiha Polský prezident Karol Nawrocki se rozhodl odebrat svému ukrajinskému protějšku Volodymyru Zelenskému Řád bílé orlice, což je nejvyšší polské vyznamenání. V pátek o tom informovala agentura PAP a další polská média. Zelenskyj vyvolal v Polsku pobouření, protože nedávno podepsal dekret, kterým přidělil jednotce ukrajinských speciálních sil za její úspěchy v nynější válce proti Rusku přídomek Hrdinové Ukrajinské povstalecké armády (UPA).

irozhlas.cz · 14 days ago

Lech Walesa a fost decorat cu Ordinul Naţional Steaua României în grad de Mare Cruce Preşedintele Nicuşor Dan i-a conferit fostului preşedinte polonez Lech Walesa Ordinul Naţional Steaua României în grad de Mare Cruce.

digi24 · 14 days ago

Zelenskyj fratas Polens høyeste utmerkelse Ukrainas president Volodymyr Zelenskyj fratas Polens høyeste utmerkelse, opplyser president Karol Nawrocki.

aftenposten · 14 days ago

Tusk rozmawiał z Zełenskim o UPA. "Nie miał intencji obrazić Polaków" Donald Tusk przekazał, że Wołodymyr Zełenski zapewnił go, iż decyzja o nadaniu jednej z ukraińskich jednostek imienia "Bohaterów UPA" nie miała obrazić Polski ani pogorszyć relacji między oboma krajami. Premier ocenił jednak, że był to błąd i naganna decyzja, która niepotrzebnie wywołała emocje.

gazeta.pl · 14 days ago

Prezydent Karol Nawrocki zdecydował. Zełenski może stracić Order Orła Białego Karol Nawrocki zdecydował o odebraniu Wołodymyrowi Zełenskiemu Orderu Orła Białego - przekazała Kancelaria Prezydenta RP. Prezydent Polski zwlekał z ogłoszeniem decyzji po posiedzeniu kapituły. Sama decyzja Nawrockiego nie kończy jednak procedury - postanowienie o pozbawieniu odznaczenia wymaga kontrasygnaty premiera Donalda Tuska.

gazeta.pl · 14 days ago

Polands president has revoked Zelenskys Order of the White Eagle. "There are limits in Polish-Ukrainian relations that cannot be crossed," he said.

telegram bot · 14 days ago

Ukraines Foreign Minister Sybiga has declined Polands Commanders Cross with Star of the Order "For Merit to Poland" in response to what he calls "reckless actions."

telegram bot · 14 days ago

No foreign president will dictate our history, Ukraines Foreign Minister says, following Polands decision to revoke Zelenskys Order of the White Eagle.

telegram bot · 14 days ago

Le président polonais retire la plus haute distinction du pays à Volodymyr Zelensky : "Une erreur stratégique" Cette décision, hautement symbolique, pourrait nuire aux relations bilatérales, Varsovie étant lun des plus ardents soutiens de Kiev, tant sur le plan militaire quhumanitaire, depuis le début de son invasion par la Russie en février 2022. ...

la libre · 14 days ago

Krieg in der Ukraine: Polen entzieht Selenskij höchsten Orden Grund ist die Umbenennung einer ukrainischen Armee-Einheit nach Nationalisten, die im Zweiten Weltkrieg polnische Zivilisten massakriert haben. Über den Schritt gibt es seit längerer Zeit Streit zwischen den beiden Nachbarländern.

sueddeutsche · 14 days ago

Polish president decides to strip Zelenskyy of Order of the White EaglePolish President Karol Nawrocki has decided to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. #ukraine

mastodon bot · 14 days ago

⚡️Polish president strips Zelensky of honorary title over military unit controversy, as Kyiv calls decision strategic mistake.

bluesky bot · 14 days ago

Polish president decides to strip Ukraines Zelenskiy of top honour over WW2 dispute Polands president has decided to strip Volodymyr Zelenskiy of the countrys top honour after the Ukrainian president caused outrage by renaming an army unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA),nationalists who massacred Poles in World War Two. President Karol Nawrockis decision was likely to unleash a severe diplomatic crisis between the neighbours just days ahead of a conference on […]

cyprus mail · 14 days ago