Karol Nawrocki’s Order Withdrawal Heightens Poland‑Ukraine Tension

Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked the Order of the White Eagle awarded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Kyiv named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Nawrocki argued the decision was necessary to counter what he called radical influences in Ukrainian politics. The move sparked a sharp diplomatic row; former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski denounced Nawrocki as “characterologically radical” and warned that the dispute could damage long‑standing Polish‑Ukrainian reconciliation.

A new IBRiS poll commissioned by Onet showed Nawrocki enjoying a record 54.8 % approval, while Civic Platform leader Rafał Trzaskowski’s support fell sharply. The poll also revealed that around 70 % of respondents approved of the order’s removal, indicating the issue transcends traditional party lines. Media outlets, NGOs and civil‑society groups issued joint appeals urging both governments to resume constructive dialogue and resist Russian attempts to exploit the fissure.

Other commentators, such as former ambassador Bartosz Cichocki, warned of systemic discrimination against Poles in Ukraine and of the risk that the dispute could lead to a diplomatic break. Politicians from both sides, including Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty, called for a “reset” of relations, while commentators like Ziemowit Szczerek lamented Poland’s perceived defeat in the debate. The controversy reflects broader tensions over historical memory, the legacy of the Volhynia tragedy and the future of Poland‑Ukraine cooperation within the EU.