Navrotsky and Zelenskyy have not resolved their historical disputes: what the Polish president said
This has been reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine, as well as by Polish media, citing a statement made by Karol Nawrocki following the meeting.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Karol Nawrocki met in Ankara on the sidelines of the NATO summit. According to the Office of the President, the conversation lasted over an hour.
The Ukrainian side reported that Zelenskyy emphasised the common threat to Ukraine and Poland — Russia. The Office of the President also stated that the presidents share the same view on the importance of the partnership between the two countries and agreed to continue the dialogue and work constructively to resolve all issues.
What Nawrocki said
Following the meeting, Karol Nawrocki stated that the conversation was necessary, as neighbouring countries must maintain channels of communication even when dealing with complex issues.
He acknowledged that there has recently been tension in relations between Ukraine and Poland. At the same time, the Polish president emphasised that both states view Russia as the main threat to their independence.
According to Nawrocki, this is precisely why Kyiv and Warsaw must continue their dialogue, even if some issues cannot be resolved quickly.
Which historical issues remain unresolved
Historical disputes remain the most sensitive area of the talks. Navrotsky stated that these issues could not be resolved during the meeting with Zelenskyy.
The Polish president specifically mentioned the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, the Volhynia tragedy and symbols associated with Stepan Bandera. He said that for the Polish side, these issues remain matters of principle.
Navrotskyi stated that Poles’ feelings regarding the crimes and the Volhynia tragedy “are not subject to negotiation”. He also said that Poland expects Ukraine to understand this position.
Why this is important for relations between Ukraine and Poland
Historical disputes between Kyiv and Warsaw periodically intensify the political dialogue, despite the fact that Poland remains one of Ukraine’s key partners in countering Russia.
For Poland, the Volhynia tragedy is part of its domestic historical policy and collective memory. For Ukraine, the issues of the UPA and the figure of Bandera are linked to the history of the anti-Soviet liberation movement, making the subject politically sensitive on both sides.
That is precisely why the meeting between Zelenskyy and Navrotsky was significant not only as a diplomatic discussion, but also as an attempt to ease tensions following the recent public clashes between the two sides.
Against the backdrop of which scandal did the meeting take place?
The meeting took place following the controversy surrounding the Order of the White Eagle — Poland’s highest state honour. Navrotsky had previously decided to strip Zelenskyy of this honour due to a dispute over Ukraine’s historical policy.
Following this, Zelenskyy announced that he had returned the award. This episode became one of the most high-profile symbols of the recent tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw.
Despite this, following their meeting in Ankara, the Ukrainian and Polish sides declared their readiness to continue the dialogue.
The Office of the President of Ukraine reported that Zelenskyy and Nawrocki had agreed to work constructively towards resolving all issues. The Polish president, for his part, also stated that the dialogue must continue.
Thus, whilst the historical disputes have not disappeared following the meeting, the parties have confirmed their willingness to continue negotiations against the backdrop of a shared security threat from Russia.
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