European Parliament Criticises Zelensky’s UPA Decision but Reaffirms Support for Ukraine
World
The European Parliament has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to rename an elite military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, or UPA, from the Second World War era. At the same time, lawmakers reaffirmed that Ukraine’s future lies within the European Union.
The amendment, backed by a clear majority of MEPs, was included in a report assessing Ukraine’s progress towards EU membership. The document described the Ukrainian president’s decision as an “unnecessary and unprovoked escalation” that could further complicate relations between Kyiv and Warsaw.
Particular attention was given to historical disagreements surrounding the UPA. In Ukraine, the organisation is widely associated with the struggle for independence and resistance to Soviet rule. In Poland, however, it is primarily linked to the Volhynia massacres of 1943–1945, in which tens of thousands of Poles were killed. Warsaw recognises the events as genocide, a definition rejected by Kyiv.
The European Parliament said Zelensky’s decision failed to take sufficient account of Polish historical sensitivities and the grief of victims’ families. Lawmakers argued that the move undermines good-neighbourly relations and is inconsistent with European values, calling on Ukraine and Poland to pursue de-escalation and historical reconciliation.
Amid the dispute, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state decoration. The Ukrainian leader has acknowledged that the two countries face “difficult chapters in our history” and urged both sides to focus on the future and their shared threat from Russia.
Despite the criticism, the European Parliament once again reaffirmed its support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and welcomed the country’s progress towards European integration. The adopted text stressed that “Ukraine’s future is in the European Union” and described its EU accession as a strategic priority for the bloc.
Particular attention was given to historical disagreements surrounding the UPA. In Ukraine, the organisation is widely associated with the struggle for independence and resistance to Soviet rule. In Poland, however, it is primarily linked to the Volhynia massacres of 1943–1945, in which tens of thousands of Poles were killed. Warsaw recognises the events as genocide, a definition rejected by Kyiv.
The European Parliament said Zelensky’s decision failed to take sufficient account of Polish historical sensitivities and the grief of victims’ families. Lawmakers argued that the move undermines good-neighbourly relations and is inconsistent with European values, calling on Ukraine and Poland to pursue de-escalation and historical reconciliation.
Amid the dispute, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state decoration. The Ukrainian leader has acknowledged that the two countries face “difficult chapters in our history” and urged both sides to focus on the future and their shared threat from Russia.
Despite the criticism, the European Parliament once again reaffirmed its support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and welcomed the country’s progress towards European integration. The adopted text stressed that “Ukraine’s future is in the European Union” and described its EU accession as a strategic priority for the bloc.
Powered by Froala Editor