Budanov described Poland’s decision to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle as a ‘terrible mistake’
Budanov made these remarks during a discussion with students at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Budanov described the Polish side’s decision as a ‘terrible mistake’. He stated that it is necessary to maintain good, or at the very least neutral, relations with neighbours, as tensions could lead to political and economic problems.
Commenting on Zelenskyy’s being stripped of the Order of the White Eagle, Budanov said he viewed this move “very negatively”.
He also described the decision as immature and ill-considered. According to Budanov, if Poland had decided to take this course of action, it should first have raised the issue of honours awarded to other historical figures, in particular the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who received the Order of the White Eagle in 1923.
Is this a conflict between Ukraine and Poland?
Budanov stated that the current situation between Kyiv and Warsaw does not yet constitute a full-blown conflict.
According to him, it is more a case of diplomatic tension and a serious disagreement. At the same time, he warned that this is “not yet the peak” and the situation could worsen if the parties do not de-escalate the tension.
What caused the scandal over the Order of the White Eagle?
On 19 June, Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced the decision to strip Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle — Poland’s highest state honour. He cited the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the Heroes of the UPA as the reason.
The Polish president’s decision provoked a sharp reaction in Ukraine. In response, some Ukrainian officials and former presidents either renounced their Polish state honours or announced their intention to return them.
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