Tensions between Ukraine, Poland may enter a critical phase - defence official
The dispute between Ukraine and Poland over historical matters may be approaching a tipping point, but Ukraine is not willing to take any potential ultimatums, chief of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), Kyrylo Budanov, told the RBK-Ukraina online news agency.
In the interview, published on Tuesday, Budanov said that, in his view, the most difficult stage of the bilateral relations of the two countries is yet to come.
“This will surely happen soon. It’s no secret that [July 11 marks] the anniversary of the Volhynia tragedy. According to the information I possess, [on the Polish side] they are preparing a number of actions aimed at escalation, therefore it appears that the matter will be continued,” he said.
He also spoke about Ukraine’s stance on any potential move by the Polish side to enforce anything on Kyiv. “Ukraine will not agree to any ultimatum from anyone in the world. The last one to try to force an ultimatum on us was Russia. No offence to Poland, but Russia is a bit more powerful than Poland - but we still did not take the ultimatum. Yes, it is tough, it is bad, there is a lot of blood. But even their ultimatum we didn't take. So why would anyone think that we would take ultimatums from elsewhere?
“Nobody should speak to us through ultimatums,” Budanov added.
He argued that the Ukrainian side does not intend to take any quick or hasty steps, but he announced that “every act of ill will will be met with a reaction."
“The highest level of escalation either leads to a disaster or to de-escalation. I hope that what takes place is de-escalation,” Budanov said.
The tensions between Poland and Ukraine have been rising since on June 19, President Karol Nawrocki announced he was revoking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state distinction, following Zelensky’s decision to approve the granting of one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA," referring to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.
The following day, June 20, Zelensky said he had returned the decoration to Poland.
The Ukrainian president's decision to approve the honorary title has drawn widespread criticism from Polish officials.
The issue of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) remains one of the deepest historical disputes between Poland and Ukraine, with the two countries holding sharply contrasting views of the wartime nationalist movement. Poland considers the UPA responsible for the brutal mass killings of Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia between 1943 and 1945. In Ukraine, however, the group is widely regarded as a nationalist resistance movement that fought for independence against Soviet rule. (PAP)
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