Polish President Karol Nawrocki has decided to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle and stated that Poland will not allow those who do not understand the need to abandon the "cult of totalitarianism and violence" to join the EU.
Points of attention
- Polish President Nawrocki stripped Ukrainian President Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle due to the appointment of the title 'Heroes of the UPA' to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- The decision does not alter Poland's security policy supporting Ukraine's independence against Russian aggression.
Navrotsky took away the Order of the White Eagle from Zelenskyy
Navrotsky announced this on the evening of June 19 in a video message posted on the social network X.
In a speech lasting almost 13 minutes, Nawrocki stated that the Order of the White Eagle is not an ordinary award, but a symbol of the highest trust of Poland, signifying a special connection with the Polish state and special gratitude of the people.
Such a symbol requires not only merit, but also respect for the values that form the foundation of our community... Therefore, given the consent of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to assign one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the title "Heroes of the UPA", after consultations with the chapter, I decided to deprive the President of Ukraine of the Order of the White Eagle.
Karol Navrotsky
PRESIDENT OF POLAND
As Polish media emphasize, the approval of Prime Minister Donald Tusk is required for this decision to come into effect.
In his speech, Nawrocki emphasized that this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not mean a change in the strategic direction of Polish security policy.
We have supported and continue to support Ukraine because we know that Russian aggression poses a threat to the security of Poland and the whole of Europe. Nothing has changed in this assessment. Russia is the aggressor, and Putin is the criminal responsible for unleashing the war, which has become the largest armed conflict in Europe since the end of World War II. Behind every bombed residential area, behind every child forced to flee the war, behind every family separated by violence, there is a decision made in the Kremlin.
Navroczky stressed that Ukraine has the right to defend its independence, and Poland remains the defender of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, according to him, Poland will consistently protect the memory of its citizens and the dignity of its own state symbols and "will not agree to the heroization of those who killed defenseless Polish civilians."
Ukraine's path to European structures also requires a willingness to honestly face the difficult pages of its own history. A united Europe was built on the rejection of totalitarianism and the cult of violence. These principles should be binding on everyone. For those who do not understand this, there can be no place in the European Union, and Poland will certainly not allow this.
Decyzja Prezydenta RP Karola Nawrockiego w sprawie odebrania Orderu Orła Białego Prezydentowi Ukrainy Wołodymyrowi Zełenskiemu. pic.twitter.com/8gr1iRhM3y
— Kancelaria Prezydenta RP (@prezydentpl) June 19, 2026
Nawrocki also emphasized that for the vast majority of Polish society, the UPA remains primarily a group responsible for brutal crimes committed against Polish citizens, and the position of the Polish state on this issue has been known for many years.
