Ukraine is working through diplomatic channels with Poland to reduce tensions after the recent escalation between Kyiv and Warsaw. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said this during the national telethon, according to European Pravda.
Tykhyi said Ukraine supports dialogue with Poland and is working to lower emotions and smooth over sharp edges in bilateral relations.
“We are constantly maintaining contact through diplomatic channels. We, as the Foreign Ministry and the diplomatic team of the president of Ukraine, are constantly in contact with our Polish colleagues,” the spokesperson said.
He noted that alongside “bright headlines” and exchanges of statements on both sides, “calm diplomatic work” continues.
“We are working to calm these sharp edges and emotions. Ukraine’s position is very balanced. We are in favor of dialogue, including on difficult issues of the historical past,” Tykhyi said.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also said the current dispute is primarily about the position of Polish President Karol Nawrocki. According to him, it should not be equated either with Poland’s position as a whole or with the position of Polish society.
Tykhyi urged people not to forget that Ukraine and Poland remain allies united by a common enemy — Russia.
The escalation between Kyiv and Warsaw began after Nawrocki decided on June 19 to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. He cited the decision to name one of Ukraine’s military units in honor of the Heroes of the UPA as the reason.
Nawrocki also said Poland would not allow EU accession for those who do not understand the need to reject the “cult of totalitarianism and violence.”
On June 20, Zelenskyy said he had sent the order back to Karol Nawrocki by mail. Against the backdrop of that decision, a number of current and former Ukrainian officials announced they would return their Polish awards.
The Ukrainian president also decided not to travel to Gdansk for the Ukraine Recovery Conference. The Ukrainian delegation at the event will be led by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.
