Ukrainian President Zelensky's National Pantheon law fuels Polish political debate

Former Polish defence minister Mariusz Błaszczak said the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) could resolve a dispute with Ukraine by banning “banderyzm,” arguing that such a ban would prevent Ukraine from joining the European Union. He also pointed to the acceptance of more than one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland as a humanitarian achievement.

Ukrainian historian Jarosław Hrycak said the Ukrainian parliament’s rapid adoption of a law establishing a National Pantheon was driven by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s close advisers, particularly Iryna Wereszczuk, and suggested the legislation aims to bolster Zelensky’s electoral prospects rather than solely honour the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).