Poland-Ukraine Relations Strained Over WWII History and Arms Dispute

Relations between Poland and Ukraine have plunged into crisis following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to grant a military unit the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA," reigniting painful memories of World War II-era massacres and threatening to upend years of robust military cooperation between the two neighbors.

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army, known by its initials UPA, was instrumental to the killing of up to 100,000 Polish civilians during World War II. Poland observes July 11 as a national day of remembrance for the Volhynia massacre, when UPA forces attacked 99 Polish-majority locations on a single day in 1943, commemorated by Poles as "Bloody Sunday." The UPA had begun attacking Polish-majority villages starting in February 1943 in an effort to create favorable conditions for a Ukrainian nation-state after the war.

Historical Wounds Reopened

Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Zelenskyy attempted to find a resolution during a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, but the hourlong discussion ended without a breakthrough. Nawrocki told journalists that tensions had been running high and that the two sides had not managed to resolve what he called "historical issues."

Nawrocki declared that the glorification of the UPA was "nonnegotiable" and did not conceal his skepticism regarding Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union. The Polish president had previously responded to Zelenskyy's honoring of the unit by stripping him of Poland's highest award, the Order of the White Eagle. Zelenskyy returned the order by courier and went further, with Ukraine's parliament passing a law in July to establish a National Pantheon — a state-sanctioned institution to honor historical and military figures, including units associated with the UPA.

"No one will ever force us how to live and speak, whom to love, whom we should be grateful to and which heroes we should honor," Zelenskyy said in response to the controversy.

Political Firestorm Over Patriot Missiles

The dispute has spilled into Poland's domestic politics, where the far-right opposition is attacking the center-right government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk over the transfer of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. Krzysztof Bosak, leader of the ultranationalist National Movement and deputy speaker of parliament, triggered the controversy with a post on X on July 4, alleging that the government had secretly handed over expensive and difficult-to-obtain interceptor missiles in March without informing the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament.

Bosak argued that the weapons were necessary for Poland's own national defense against Russia. His claim was echoed by Marcin Przydacz, a former deputy foreign affairs minister now responsible for foreign policy in the president's office, who called the assumption "highly likely" and accused the government of surrendering Poland's place in the queue for ordering American weapons. "Poles will now have to wait longer," Przydacz said.

Przemyslaw Czarnek, who is expected to be the top candidate for the national conservative Law and Justice party in the 2027 parliamentary elections, said Poland had been "deprived of strategic weapons without the knowledge of parliament and the president." He accused Ukraine of not treating Poland like a partner for two years and taking an "increasingly confrontational stance."

In response, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz declassified data on Poland's military aid to Ukraine, revealing that the country had spent 16.45 billion zloty (€3.8 billion or $4.35 billion) since the Russian invasion. The largest share — 14.9 billion zloty — was spent during the previous Law and Justice government in 2022-2023.

Arms Deals and Diplomatic Fallout

The decision to transfer PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems was made at the request of NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and the commander of US forces in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich. Kosiniak-Kamisz insisted that Poland's air defense was in no way compromised and that President Nawrocki had been informed in detail about the plan.

Polish media have noted a striking paradox: until recently, the government and opposition competed over who had done more for Ukraine, but now both sides accuse each other of having supplied too many weapons. Mateusz Morawiecki, who served as prime minister when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and was a staunch supporter of military aid, framed the arrangement bluntly: "We supply you with 50-year-old tanks and you fight and shed your own blood. I think that was a good deal for us."

The downturn in relations is also affecting a separate arms swap. Poland had promised to deliver MiG fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2025 in exchange for modern Ukrainian drone technology. However, Kyiv demanded that Poland modernize the jets first, a condition Warsaw declined. Kosiniak-Kamysz said the agreement was not definitively off the table.

European Parliament and Rising Tensions

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Wednesday classifying Zelenskyy's UPA honor as an unnecessary and unprovoked escalation. Members of the European Parliament called the designation incompatible with EU values but urged both Poland and Ukraine to resume their reconciliation process.

Tensions are expected to intensify around the July 11 anniversary. Kyrylo Budanov, identified as Zelenskyy's chief of staff, predicted that the peak of tensions was imminent. "This peak is certain to come soon," he said. "That is no secret. July 11 marks the anniversary of the Volhynia tragedy. Information I have indicates that the Polish side is preparing actions that will lead to escalation."

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Poland has been one of Ukraine's most steadfast allies, providing extensive military support including weapons and equipment. Until recently, this cooperation — rooted in a shared view of Russia as an existential threat — had been accepted across Poland's political spectrum and kept largely separate from domestic disputes. The current crisis marks a significant rupture in that unity, raising questions about the future of one of Europe's most critical security partnerships.

As historical grievances collide with present-day security imperatives, the trajectory of Polish-Ukrainian relations will have far-reaching implications for regional stability and the broader Western coalition supporting Ukraine. Share this article and join the conversation — how should allies balance historical memory with the demands of contemporary security?

Source: DW – World