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Ukraine remains open to diplomatic dialogue with Poland but will no longer ignore unfriendly or disrespectful actions toward the Ukrainian state, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, UATV English reports.
Nawrocki has undermined the positive achievements we have made eecently. It is no surprise that he is receiving applause from Moscow, says Sybiha.
“I want to thank every Pole who has clearly expressed opposition to escalating tensions with Ukraine. We are strong supporters of the same approach,” Sybiha stated.
According to him, such a position gives many Ukrainians hope for the future of good-neighborly relations.
“We are wise nations. We have always been able to find a way out of difficult situations. We are united by a difficult history, a shared future, and a common threat from our eternal enemy — Moscow,” the minister said.
Sybiha noted that July 11 is a particularly sensitive date for Poland because of commemorations related to the Volhynia tragedy.
“We call for restraint. We remain open to diplomatic dialogue. We believe that the full range of diplomatic tools should be used, and we are ready for that,” he stressed.
The Ukrainian foreign minister argued that Polish President Karol Nawrocki, by deciding to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle, had become “a destroyer of the positive achievements that Ukraine and Poland have made in recent years.”
“This is a huge mistake. It is no coincidence that he is now receiving applause from Moscow. Unfortunately, Moscow benefits most from disputes and quarrels between our nations. That is why we call for restraint and diplomacy, and we are ready for it,” Sybiha said.
He emphasized that Ukraine had never sought to create tensions with Poland and had always appreciated Polish support.
“I would like to remind everyone that together with Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, President Zelenskyy, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, we achieved significant progress over the past year and a half on sensitive historical issues. Exhumations began, historians resumed dialogue, and we depoliticized these matters. It is very important not to politicize sensitive historical issues again,” he said.
Sybiha acknowledged that Ukrainian-Polish relations contain difficult chapters that should be discussed honestly, “but let historians discuss them.”
“This situation, this disrespect toward the President of Ukraine, is not only about an award. It is not only about revoking an order. It was a display of disrespect toward the Ukrainian soldier, the Ukrainian people, our history, and our right to have our own history. We will not tolerate that,” he stated.
The minister said the decision by multiple Ukrainian presidents to return Polish state awards demonstrated Ukraine’s political maturity.
“No president of another state will dictate our history to us anymore. Period. That is over. We will respond in kind. We will mirror all actions, especially if they are unfriendly or disrespectful toward our country,” Sybiha said.
According to him, the time when Ukraine ignored unfriendly actions and historical manipulation has passed.
“We will now mirror such actions. I want our Polish friends to hear that,” he added.
Sybiha also said Ukrainian officials speak with their Polish counterparts daily about preserving diplomatic dialogue.
“We are united by common challenges, common interests, and a shared European future. We must free our relations from the burden of the past,” the minister concluded.
As previously reported, Polish President Karol Nawrocki decided to revoke the Order of the White Eagle awarded to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In response, Andrii Sybiha announced he was returning the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, awarded to him in October 2022.
Kyrylo Budanov also announced that he would return the Gold Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, awarded to him last year.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva made similar decisions.
Former Ukrainian Presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko also announced that they would return their Polish state awards.
On June 20, President Zelenskyy stated that he had sent the Order of the White Eagle back to the Polish president by mail, while stressing that Ukraine remains open to all meaningful forms of cooperation with its partners.
On June 21, former Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman announced that, in solidarity with Ukraine and President Zelenskyy, he was returning the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
Read also: Ukraine’s soldiers stand between Europe and Russian aggression, — Polish volunteer
