Zelenskyy urges 'delicate' dialogue with Poland after talks with Nawrocki, but historical disputes remain unresolved

A meeting on the sidelines of NATO

The presidents of Poland and Ukraine met on Wednesday on the margins of the NATO summit in Ankara. The conversation lasted over an hour and covered security, economic cooperation, and the most sensitive topic: historical tensions that have strained bilateral relations in recent months.

I believe our meeting with the President of Poland was important, quite long and constructive. We discussed priority issues. We also discussed historical issues. In my opinion, we should be constructive and delicate so as not to destroy the important, friendly and neighborly relations between Ukraine and Poland.

Common threat, shared goals

Both leaders stressed that Russia remains the primary danger to their countries' independence. Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that the two nations "have one common threat: Russia" and that it is crucial to maintain mutual understanding and act together. Nawrocki echoed this, saying Poland and Ukraine "look in the same direction" regarding threats to sovereignty.

The post-Soviet Russian Federation is a threat to both Ukraine and Poland.

Economic cooperation and reconstruction

Zelenskyy highlighted growing interest from Polish businesses in participating in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. He referenced a conference in Gdańsk on rebuilding Ukraine, calling it successful, and said Ukraine is open to Polish partners. The economic track was one of the few areas where the two sides found immediate alignment.

Historical wounds remain open

The most difficult part of the talks concerned history. Tensions escalated in May when Zelenskyy named an elite Ukrainian military unit after UPA heroes. In response, Nawrocki revoked Zelenskyy's Order of the White Eagle, awarded in 2023 by then-President Andrzej Duda. During the Ankara meeting, Nawrocki made clear that for him, UPA symbols are non-negotiable.

For me, the issues of the UPA, the symbols of the UPA, are non-negotiable. The emotion of Polish women and men regarding the Volhynia genocide is non-negotiable. We count on Ukraine's understanding that the Bandera flag limits Ukraine's future in the EU.

Nawrocki admitted the historical issues were not resolved, adding that they had not approached the meeting expecting to solve everything. Zelenskyy, for his part, insisted on the need for a constructive and delicate approach to preserve the relationship.

A dialogue to continue

Despite the unresolved disputes, both presidents agreed to continue the dialogue. Zelenskyy's message was one of caution: the friendship between the two neighbors must not be destroyed. The meeting in Ankara did not produce a breakthrough on history, but it kept the channel open at a time when both countries face a common adversary to the east.