Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decided to skip the Ukraine Recovery Conference, a high-level meeting on postwar reconstruction, amid escalating tensions with Poland. The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko instead. The conference, which begins Thursday in the Polish coastal city of Gdańsk, aims to gather international partners and businesses to support Ukraine's rebuilding after the war.
Root of the Dispute: UPA Military Unit Naming
The rift stems from Zelenskyy's decision last month to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). In Ukraine, the UPA is celebrated as a symbol of resistance against Soviet forces. However, in Poland, the UPA is infamous for killing up to 100,000 Poles in the Volhynia region between 1943 and 1945, an event the Polish parliament has labeled a genocide.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed outrage, calling the decision historically insensitive. He announced he would revoke the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest civilian honor, which was awarded to Zelenskyy in 2023. Nawrocki stated, "Ultimately, the position of the Ukrainian side did not change. History should not be an obstacle to the future, but a good future can only be built on truth."
Zelenskyy's Response and Broader Fallout
In response, Zelenskyy returned the award by post and criticized Nawrocki for exploiting anti-Ukrainian sentiments ahead of Poland's parliamentary elections. He defended his decision, saying, "Our service members choose a heroic name for their unit themselves, and as president and supreme commander-in-chief, I must support them." Zelenskyy warned that the dispute weakens Polish-Ukrainian relations at a critical time, adding, "Without Ukraine, no one will be able to defend Poland."
The controversy has united Ukrainian political figures across the spectrum. Former presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko, along with several senior officials, also returned their Polish honors in solidarity.
Impact on the Conference and EU Concerns
Zelenskyy's absence is a setback for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who is hosting the conference in his hometown. Tusk had urged de-escalation, warning that the dispute would be "a strategic mistake that will cost both sides." On Tuesday, he acknowledged anti-Ukrainian sentiment but accused politicians in both countries of stoking tensions.
The European Union also weighed in, with spokesperson Paula Pinho stating, "There's only one happy observer in this type of situation, and that's the aggressor in Ukraine, and so we shouldn't be playing into their hands." The EU expressed hope that the conference, which will be attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would still be successful.
Poland has been a key ally of Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, hosting over a million Ukrainian refugees and serving as a logistics hub for aid deliveries. The current dispute threatens to undermine this partnership at a time when unity against Russia is crucial.
