Polish and Ukrainian outlets call for de-escalation amid historic dispute
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Six media organisations from Poland and Ukraine issued a joint statement warning that the current diplomatic row over a World War II-era unit could be exploited by Russia and undermine bilateral solidarity.
Six leading Polish and Ukrainian media outlets issued a joint appeal on June 23, expressing concern that the escalating diplomatic dispute between the two neighbours could play into Russian interests. The statement, initiated by the Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, was signed by the investigative site OKO.press, the Ukrainian outlets Ukrainska Pravda, European Pravda, Espreso TV, and the Polish-based Ukrainian channel Slawa.TV.
The row began after Kyiv named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a World II resistance group. Polish President Andrzej Duda responded by revoking President Volodymyr Zelensky’s receipt of Poland’s highest state honour, prompting several Ukrainian officials to return their Polish awards.
"The time for serious conversation about the past, acknowledgment of guilt, and reconciliation will come when Ukraine – with the support of its allies – defeats the aggressor," the joint statement read.
The editors warned that the dispute is deepening public mistrust on both sides and could be used by Moscow to "drive a wedge between Poles and Ukrainians." They called on politicians to exercise wisdom and seek mutual understanding, while urging societies not to succumb to manipulation.
Historians note that the UPA is celebrated in Ukraine for resisting Soviet rule, whereas in Poland it is associated with the 1943-45 Volyn massacres of Polish civilians, a painful chapter that still shapes bilateral relations. The appeal underscores the broader concern that internal tensions may distract from the shared goal of countering Russian aggression.