Poland gives Ukraine 'short time' to reverse military unit naming before decision on revoking Zelenskyy's highest order
Poland's president is holding off on stripping Ukrainian President Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle, giving Kyiv a short deadline to undo a military unit naming that honoured wartime UPA fighters, aides said Sunday.
Background of the dispute
In late May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named a military unit after the "heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)", a Second World War-era formation whose legacy remains deeply sensitive in Poland. The decision immediately prompted calls from Polish political circles to revoke the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest decoration, which was awarded to Zelenskyy earlier.
Presidential Chapter and the waiting game
On 8 June, the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle convened and submitted its recommendation to President Karol Nawrocki. Presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz confirmed that Nawrocki has seen the opinion but has not yet announced a final decision. Instead, Warsaw is giving Kyiv a window to withdraw the name.
The Chapter's opinion has already been expressed to the president. The president also has his own view on the matter, and a decision can be expected in the near future.
Poland's position
Presidential deputy chief Adam Andruszkiewicz, speaking on Polsat News, made clear that the Polish leader has not backed down. He called the naming decision "very negative" and said Ukraine knows Warsaw's "very critical and negative" stance. Nawrocki personally conveyed the message to the Ukrainian side through the administration and set a short deadline.
We have given the Ukrainian side a short time to react. If there is no reaction from Kyiv, then an appropriate decision by the president will immediately follow.
Political controversy widens
The dispute has spilled into domestic politics. Deputy Science Minister Andrzej Szeptycki drew criticism after comparing Ukrainians' view of UPA members to Poland's "cursed soldiers". Aleksandra Leo of the Centrum club called the remarks "misguided" and "potentially harmful". Opposition MPs Przemysław Czarnek and Janusz Kowalski demanded explanations, with Kowalski announcing a review of alleged "Ukrainisation" of Poland's public administration. Leo warned against judging people by their roots or surname, drawing parallels to discrimination against Jews in the 1930s.
Next steps
Aides indicated that the president is waiting to see whether Ukraine will reverse the unit's naming. Confederation spokesman Wojciech Machulski expressed doubt that Kyiv would back down and speculated that Nawrocki may be awaiting Zelenskyy's possible attendance at a conference in Gdańsk before deciding. The situation remains tense as Warsaw's ultimatum clock runs.
