Volodymyr Zelenskyy to skip postwar conference amid tensions with Poland
Ukraine’s president will not attend after sparking Polish ‘outrage’ over naming of military unit
TL;DR
- President Zelenskyy will skip the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Poland due to a dispute over naming a military unit after the UPA.
- The UPA is seen by Ukraine as a symbol of independence but by Poland as responsible for the deaths of up to 100,000 Poles.
- The naming decision has caused outrage in Poland, leading President Nawrocki to revoke Zelenskyy's highest civilian honor.
- Both sides have traded blame, and no compromise has been reached on the naming issue.
- Zelenskyy has accused Polish politicians of exploiting anti-Ukrainian sentiment ahead of elections.
- Previous Ukrainian presidents and officials have returned their Polish honors in solidarity.
- The dispute is seen as a strategic mistake that could weaken Polish-Ukrainian relations and benefit Russia.
- The EU has warned that worsening relations between Poland and Ukraine would only benefit Russia.