Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected suggestions that there was a political reason behind President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s change of travel route during his recent visit to the United Kingdom. The ministry said the president’s travel logistics are unrelated to Ukraine’s relations with Poland.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi made the statement during a briefing, according to Ukrinform.
“I have seen these claims. They seem artificial to me. The President’s logistics are handled separately by his protocol service. Let’s not politicize logistical matters and especially not draw unnecessary attention to them for security reasons. There is no political dimension here, and there is no need to look for one,” Tykhyi said.
Media outlets, citing data from the FlightAware tracking service, previously reported that Zelenskyy traveled to the United Kingdom on June 7 via Chisinau rather than through the Polish airport in Rzeszow, which he had used for previous foreign visits.
On social media, the change of route was linked to tensions between Ukraine and Poland.
On May 27, Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the honorary title “Named after the Heroes of the UPA” to the Separate Special Operations Center “North” of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces. Poland’s Foreign Ministry later condemned the decision.
Last weekend, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov visited Warsaw, where he held meetings at the Chancellery of the President of Poland and the Council of Ministers regarding tensions in Ukrainian-Polish relations connected to historical issues.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk previously stated that Kyiv should take responsibility for the crisis in relations with Warsaw and propose solutions acceptable to Poland.
