European Parliament criticises Zelenskyy over naming of unit after UPA heroes
The European Parliament has adopted a comprehensive report on Ukraine's progress towards EU membership which, among other things, includes a provision proposed by Polish MEPs criticising President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
Source: press service for the European Parliament, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The report on Ukraine's EU accession process was approved by 460 votes in favour. It calls for a "constructive discussion" on how to advance Ukraine's accession while taking into account the strategic interests of the European Union.
The resolution contains a section on Ukraine's good neighbourly relations, including Poland's concerns over the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after UPA heroes.
Quote: "Regarding the renaming of an elite military unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), MEPs regret the disregard for Polish sensitivities and grief and consider that this decision undermines neighbourly relations, calling for de-escalation and renewed efforts in good faith towards reconciliation."
Details: According to Polish news portal RMF24, the adopted provision was the result of negotiations led by Polish MEPs from the European People's Party. Earlier, MEPs from the conservative Law and Justice party had tabled amendments containing stronger wording, proposing that Ukraine's EU accession be linked to resolving historical disputes over the Volyn (Volhynia) tragedy and emphasising alleged links between the UPA's ideology and Nazism.
The amendment that was ultimately adopted was a "compromise" proposal by Andrzej Halicki, agreed with the report's rapporteur, German MEP Michael Gahler. The final wording of the adopted provision has not yet been published.
Plans to submit such an amendment were reported by Polish lawmakers last week.
The report also welcomed the opening of the first negotiating cluster and expressed hope that additional clusters would be opened soon. It notes that EU member states should take into account the pace of reforms in candidate countries as well as Russia's attempts to undermine public support for EU membership.
MEPs praised Ukraine for strengthening its democratic institutions and maintaining the separation of powers during wartime. They also welcomed progress in judicial reform and anti-corruption efforts and called for those reforms to continue.
The report also addresses Ukraine's first post-war elections, stressing that they should be held only after sufficient time has passed following the lifting of martial law to ensure they meet the standards of free and fair elections. It also criticised calls from the United States for Ukraine to hold elections while the war is ongoing.
MEPs stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine now that it is regaining the initiative and to increase pressure on Russia's war machine.
Background: Piotr Müller, a Polish MEP from the opposition Law and Justice party, also announced that his political group had submitted a proposal for a debate and a resolution on commemorating the victims of what it described as the "UPA genocide".
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