Polish Sejm speaker stresses importance of cooperation despite "foolishness on Ukraine's part"

Polish Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty has described Kyiv's decision to name a military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army as foolish, but stressed the need for cooperation, arguing that only Russia benefits from escalation.

Source: Polish news channel Polsat News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The host asked Czarzasty to comment on Polish President Karol Nawrocki's decision to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Poland's highest state award. The leader of the New Left party said he would not take either side in the dispute.

"There is no point in Poland today in criticising or supporting anyone on issues like this, because they provoke emotions. Regardless of whether those emotions are positive or negative, and regardless of which side they come from. It will lead nowhere," Czarzasty said.

He declined to assess the president's decision, saying: "I do not want to divide Polish women and men."

Czarzasty believes that "stoking emotions and tensions at a time when a war is ongoing", when radicals are coming to power around the world and US President Donald Trump "behaves like a leader of chaos", is unwise.

"Ukraine's decision regarding the UPA name was scandalous. It was wrong, and I condemn it. But are we trying to find a way out of this conflict and dispute?" the Sejm speaker said. He added that "it is better to have a channel for dialogue than to block it".

In Czarzasty's view, "Poland will be independent and strong when Ukraine is independent and strong". "This raises a question for the future, for the next five to 10 years. Is it better to maintain dialogue, or is it better to destroy these contacts?" he said.

The Sejm speaker stated that despite what he called "President Zelenskyy's scandalous decision", escalation in relations would play into Russia's hands.

"I want to say that Poland will not be safe without Ukraine. I reiterate that once again. But Ukraine will not join the European Union without Poland. Perhaps we should finally start setting conditions," Czarzasty said. The New Left leader stressed that cooperation remains important despite what he described as mistakes made by Ukraine.

"On this issue, I will make sensible decisions and sensible gestures. Someone really needs to step back from the foolishness that occurred on Ukraine's part," he said.

The host then asked Czarzasty whether Poland should make Ukraine's EU accession conditional on its rejection of the current positive view of Stepan Bandera.

"Poland must act sensibly, because negotiating with someone while a gun is pointed at their head, regardless of whether they are right or wrong, I fear will not produce results," he said.

"Until nations forgive one another, no politician will resolve this issue for them. Do you know what is needed for that? Time," Czarzasty concluded.

Background:

• On the evening of 19 June, Nawrocki took the decision to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle in connection with the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. He said Poland would not allow EU accession for those who do not understand the need to renounce the "cult of totalitarianism and violence".
• Following this, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar, and Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Budanov announced that they would be returning the Polish state awards they had received.
• On 20 June, Zelenskyy said he had sent the order back to Nawrocki by post.

• All Ukrainian presidents who have been awarded the Polish Order of the White Eagle have subsequently renounced it.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!