The President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, has decided to strip the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, of the Order of the White Eagle. For the decision to take effect, the signature of Prime Minister Tusk is also required. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister stated: “This is a strategic mistake that only benefits Moscow.”
“I want to emphasize: this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not change the strategic course of Polish security policy. We have supported and continue to support Ukraine because we know that Russian aggression poses a threat to Poland and all of Europe,” Nawrocki stated.
“As the Grand Master of the Order of the White Eagle, I am obliged to defend the honor of this award. After Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to name a unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the ‘Heroes of the UPA’ and after consultations with the Chapter, I decided to strip him of the order,” Nawrocki said.
Nawrocki announced his intention to strip Zelensky of the order back in late May. The reason was the Ukrainian president’s naming of one of his army’s units after the ‘Heroes of the UPA.’
The decision by Nawrocki was commented on by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andriy Sibiga.
“The decision to strip the President of Ukraine of the Order of the White Eagle is a strategic mistake by the President of Poland, which only benefits Moscow,” he wrote on Facebook.
“We regret that emotions have taken over in Warsaw and pushed Polish politicians to make unfounded, impulsive, and contemptuous steps — directed not so much against President Zelensky as against the Ukrainian state,” he added.
Sibiga also intends to return the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit for the Republic of Poland.
