Polish officials consider limiting contact with Zelenskyy

Ivanna Kostina, Anastasia Protz - 30 June, 17:51

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Karol Nawrocki. Photo: Nawrocki on social media

People close to Polish President Karol Nawrocki are considering limiting contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid worsening Polish-Ukrainian relations.

Source: Polish newspaper Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, citing a person close to the Polish president, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The source said Nawrocki may announce his position on 11 July, Poland's National Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of Citizens of the Polish Republic Committed by Ukrainian Nationalists.

The President's Palace views Zelenskyy's announcement on the creation of the Ukrainian National Pantheon as a deliberate provocation by Ukraine. People close to Nawrocki increasingly believe that the recent actions of the Ukrainian authorities are not accidental but form part of Kyiv's long-term historical policy.

"We are responding to this statement with restraint because the actions of Zelenskyy and those around him are provocative in nature, and we will not become part of a scenario written by Kyiv, which, incidentally, reinforces Russian propaganda," the representative of the President's Chancellery said.

In the official's view, the Ukrainian president's decisions "are primarily aimed at a domestic audience in order to strengthen his weakened position" and are also intended to "cover up corruption scandals involving leading Ukrainian politicians".

The President's Palace does not intend to respond immediately to Ukraine's actions. "We will not respond impulsively. We will continue doing our job, and we will consistently refer to those who committed crimes under the UPA flag as perpetrators of genocide," the source said.

"We do not need to respond today or tomorrow. This can be prepared calmly and delivered during the commemorations on 11 July, when the president will speak," the official added.

People close to Nawrocki are considering limiting contact with Zelenskyy while continuing to provide assistance to Ukraine.

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 the decision, a number of current and former Ukrainian officials announced that they would return their Polish honours.
Michał Kamiński, Deputy Marshal of the Polish Senate, decided to return two Ukrainian state awards in response to the decision by Zelenskyy, other Ukrainian presidents and officials to return Polish state decorations.
Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice party, said he will return the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Second Class, awarded to him by Ukraine, following the recent deterioration in relations between the two countries.

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