Polish Foreign Ministry on dispute with Ukraine: Russia has every reason to be pleased

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has said that, because of various statements and actions, Russia can be satisfied with having driven a wedge between Poles and Ukrainians.

Source: RMF FM, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sikorski made the remarks ahead of 11 July, when Poland will mark the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Volyn tragedy. [The Volyn (Volhynia) tragedy was a series of events that led to the ethnic cleansing of the Polish and Ukrainian populations in 1943 during World War II. It was part of a long-standing rivalry between Ukrainians and Poles in what is now Ukraine's west. Poland considers the Volyn tragedy a genocide of Poles – ed.]

The main commemorative events will take place in Chełm and Warsaw, while joint Polish-Ukrainian ceremonies are unlikely to be held.

Sikorski said that, unfortunately, various statements and actions had led to a situation in which the Russians could feel satisfied with how they had turned Poles and Ukrainians against one another. He added that history could not be changed and that no victim could be brought back to life. However, he said that what both sides could do was better understand their own history and reconcile so that they could share a common future instead of destroying one another.

Background: On 3 July, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met Sikorski in Warsaw and proposed a package of anti-crisis measures aimed at easing tensions in Polish-Ukrainian relations.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.