Zelensky announces archive openings and exhumation permits to ease Poland‑Ukraine tensions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a five‑point plan aimed at repairing relations with Poland after a diplomatic row over the naming of a Ukrainian unit after the World‑War‑II‑era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The plan includes (1) diplomatic actions to address immediate frictions, (2) opening all archives of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and Foreign Intelligence Service that contain documents on the 1943‑44 Volyn massacres of Polish civilians, (3) issuing a significant number of new permits for archaeological searches and exhumations of victims, (4) expanding dialogue between Ukrainian and Polish societies, and (5) strengthening the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. Zelensky stressed that a strong, independent Ukraine benefits Poland’s security and thanked Poland for its support since the Russian invasion.

Poland greeted the initiative positively. Prime Minister Donald Tusk tweeted that Poland is ready for “serious and friendly dialogue” on issues that unite and divide the two nations, and Polish officials said the promised measures should be translated into concrete actions. The announcement follows earlier tensions in which Poland’s president stripped Zelensky of the country’s highest honour after Kyiv named a unit “Heroes of the UPA.” By opening the archives and fast‑tracking exhumation permits, Kyiv hopes to build trust, allow Polish researchers access to previously restricted material, and sustain Poland’s logistical and political backing for Ukraine’s war effort.