Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, has announced that he will return the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland after what he described as a historically unjust decision concerning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The diplomat published the statement on social media.
Bodnar emphasized that Poland remains a friend, ally and partner of Ukraine, and that Ukrainians will always remember and appreciate the support provided by the Polish people.
According to him, Ukraine and Poland share many common interests, including security, defense, reconstruction and European integration. He noted that over the past year and a half, the two countries have achieved significant progress in bilateral relations and in addressing difficult historical issues through constructive dialogue.
At the same time, Bodnar said he could not remain indifferent to a decision he considers unjust.
“I cannot accept that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy — a friend of Poland and the leader of a country courageously defending itself against Russian aggression while protecting peace in Europe — has been stripped of Poland’s highest state decoration,” the ambassador said.
According to Bodnar, amid Russia’s war against Ukraine and ongoing missile and drone attacks, the decision is perceived in Ukraine as particularly painful and emotional, and as a gesture directed against the Ukrainian people as a whole.
For this reason, he said, he will return the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
At the same time, the ambassador stressed that the current disagreement should not undermine the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Poland.
“We may have different views and disagree, but we must not lose the ability to listen to one another and seek solutions through dialogue,” he said.
Bodnar also called for an open and honest conversation between Kyiv and Warsaw, emphasizing that only Russia benefits from disputes between the two countries.
