Poland and Ukraine share a close alliance, especially in their ongoing efforts to counter their common enemy, Russia. However, the relationship is teetering on the brink due to painful historical events from World War II that neither side is willing to fully acknowledge.
Issues of Accountability
During the war, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) committed atrocities against thousands of Poles in an effort to clear territories that were once part of Poland but are now in western Ukraine. In retaliation, numerous Ukrainians lost their lives in subsequent attacks.
Some Ukrainian historians argue that Poland bears some responsibility for these massacres due to its suppression of Ukrainian national ambitions before the war, according to Digi24.
In Poland, this tragic chapter is referred to as the Volhynia Massacre, and the issue of accountability for the mass killings has resurfaced in the political discussions between Kyiv and Warsaw.
Recently, Polish officials have threatened to block Ukraine's accession to the European Union until Kyiv acknowledges its role in the massacres and allows the exhumation and reburial of the victims' remains.
Won't Join EU Until it's Solved
Poland's Defense Minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, stated: “Ukraine will not join the European Union until this issue is resolved.”
The sentiment was echoed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who insisted that Ukraine must meet Poland's expectations. Tusk emphasized that Ukraine's EU membership hinges not only on economic and legal standards but also on cultural and political ones.
With Poland poised to assume the rotating presidency of the EU next year, the urgency of the situation is heightened. Kosiniak-Kamysz warned that anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland is likely to grow unless these historical grievances are addressed.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha expressed Ukraine's willingness to engage in discussions about the complex legacy of the Polish-Ukrainian conflict during the war.
The events surrounding the Volhynia Massacre remain a painful reminder for both nations. In Poland, the legacy of these atrocities affects generations of families who lost loved ones during the violence.
Some Polish leaders have gone so far as to label the actions of the UPA as genocide against the Polish people. Conversely, many in Ukraine view the actions of the UPA as part of their struggle for independence, complicating the narrative and making reconciliation challenging.
