President of Poland Karol Nawrocki has revoked the Order of the White Eagle from Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Karol Nawrocki / © Associated Press
Updated with additional materials
The President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, has decided to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the country’s highest state decoration, the Order of the White Eagle.
The Polish President announced this on the evening of June 19.
Nawrocki Revokes Order of the White Eagle from Zelenskyy – What He Stated
Nawrocki explained his decision by stating that the Order is a symbol of the highest trust and gratitude of the Polish nation, which demands appropriate respect for historical values from the recipient.
“Therefore, given President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s consent to bestow the name ‘Heroes of the UPA’ upon one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, after consultations with the Chapter, I have decided to strip the President of Ukraine of the Order of the White Eagle,” he stated in his address.
At the same time, the Polish President emphasized that this step does not signify a change in Poland’s strategy and is not directed against Ukrainians. He added that Warsaw continues to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, which it considers a common threat.
“Russia is the aggressor, and Putin is a criminal responsible for unleashing the war, which has become the largest armed conflict in Europe since the end of World War II. Behind every bombed residential area, behind every child forced to flee the war, behind every family torn apart by violence, lies a decision made in the Kremlin,” he added.
The Polish leader also explained that Poland’s history is full of tragedies, from deportations to life under Soviet control, which is why freedom holds a special value for Poles. He added that Poland is ready to cooperate with Ukraine but will not forget historical conflicts.
“Poland will consistently defend the memory of its citizens and the dignity of its state symbols. Poland will defend its national interests and values. Poland will not agree to the glorification of those who killed defenseless Polish civilians,” Nawrocki stressed.
He also noted that for Ukraine’s European future, it is important to speak openly about difficult historical events. In his opinion, disputes over history only benefit the Kremlin. The President of Poland called for building a shared memory around figures who symbolize Ukrainian-Polish cooperation, particularly Hetmans Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny, Pylyp Orlyk, and Otaman Symon Petliura.
“Therefore, today’s decision is not just symbolic. It also serves as a warning. There are boundaries in Polish-Ukrainian relations that cannot be crossed. This is also a call to our neighbors: return to the path of truth and mutual respect,” concluded Karol Nawrocki.
Ukraine-Poland Scandal Over UPA – Latest News
We remind you that a scandal arose between Poland and Ukraine due to Zelenskyy’s decision to grant an honorary title of “Heroes of the UPA” to one of the military units. In response, Poland threatened to revoke the Order of the White Eagle, which the **Ukrainian President received in April 2023.**
This decision provoked a major diplomatic scandal. While the Polish side awaits a change in Kyiv’s position, Ukrainians on social media are reacting strongly to **such blackmail and are urging the authorities not to yield to pressure.**
Additionally, the office of the President of Poland previously confirmed that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy could be stripped of the country’s highest state award.
Comments (1) Sort: New Old Popular Send els2252 22:15, 06.20.2026 How terrible. To the joy of the Poles, they even solidified it as the news of the century. How many children died today! 0 0 Reply