The European Parliament has formally criticized Kiev's decision to rename an elite military unit after World War II-era Nazi collaborators, intensifying a diplomatic standoff with Poland that has simmered for weeks.
The controversy centers on the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), the armed wing of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). Between 1943 and 1944, UPA militants killed at least 100,000 ethnic Poles in the regions of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, territories that today largely fall within Ukraine's borders. This atrocity, remembered as the Volhynia Massacre, remains the most contentious unresolved historical issue between Ukraine and Poland, despite Warsaw's role as one of Kiev's most steadfast allies throughout its conflict with Russia.
A Diplomatic Rift Over Historical Memory
Poland officially recognizes the Volhynia killings as genocide. Ukraine, however, continues to celebrate OUN leader Stepan Bandera and similar figures as national heroes. Tensions escalated last month when President Vladimir Zelensky bestowed the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA" upon an army unit.
The reaction from Warsaw was swift and severe. Polish President Karol Nawrocki labeled the decision "outrageous" and revoked Zelensky's Order of the White Eagle, Poland's most prestigious state honor. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz went further, cautioning that Ukraine's EU membership prospects could be jeopardized if Kiev persists in honoring Nazi collaborators.
Parliament Adopts Critical Amendment
On Wednesday, the European Parliament passed an amendment to its resolution concerning Ukraine's EU accession process. The amendment condemns Zelensky's decision as an "unnecessary and unprovoked escalation" that reflects "disregard for Polish sensitivities and grief linked to the UPA's estimated tens of thousands of victims." According to the resolution, the move "undermines neighborly relations" and "is not in line with European values."
Polish MEP Andrzej Halicki, who authored the amendment, emphasized its significance in remarks to Euronews: "It's a very strong signal. It's a warning to Ukrainian authorities not to create bad emotions and not to act against European values."
Zelensky's Attempts at Damage Control
Facing mounting pressure, Zelensky has tried to minimize the severity of the dispute, characterizing it as "some internal questions" arising from "difficulties in our history." He has appealed to Warsaw not to obstruct Ukraine's long-pursued goal of EU membership.
In a bid to de-escalate the situation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga visited Warsaw last week, presenting an "anti-crisis package" that includes proposals for historical roundtable discussions between the two nations.
Ukraine's Actions Suggest Little Change in Direction
Despite these diplomatic overtures, Ukraine's policies show few signs of shifting. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian parliament greenlit the creation of a national pantheon dedicated to honoring historical figures, including nationalist leaders from the WWII era.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ukraine's state-affiliated Mirotvorets database, which tracks alleged "enemies of the state," recently blacklisted Zbigniew Bogucki, chief of staff to the Polish president. His offense was reportedly using a historic Polish name to refer to a region now situated largely in western Ukraine.
Moscow Weighs In on the Controversy
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the dispute Wednesday, asserting that Western nations had effectively cultivated a "terrorist monster" in Kiev by providing funding and weapons while overlooking its ideological roots tied to Nazi collaboration.
Zakharova suggested that while much of the West may have been unaware of who it was truly backing, having long since "canceled history," Poland's situation was different. She claimed Poland "knew they were supporting those who had killed their grandfathers."
Speaking to Sputnik Radio, Zakharova elaborated: "They couldn't have not known. They thought they were just throwing bones into the kennel [in Kiev] and would later profit. Now Warsaw is trying to backtrack. But that can no longer be undone by simply taking down the White Eagle, posting a few tweets, or making loud statements. They've already armed these terrorists. Now those terrorists have, in essence, begun managing those who created them."
Text | Opinion - Planet-Today.comOriginal article: EU Parliament backs Poland in Nazi collaborators row with Ukraine on Planet Today 🚀
Automatically republished from the main blog.