Zelenskyy returns Poland's highest honor after Polish leader revokes it in a spat over history

By — Claudia Ciobanu, Associated Press Claudia Ciobanu, Associated Press By — Volodymyr Yurchuk, Associated Press Volodymyr Yurchuk, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/zelenskyy-returns-polands-highest-honor-after-polish-leader-revokes-it-in-a-spat-over-history Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Zelenskyy returns Poland's highest honor after Polish leader revokes it in a spat over history World Jun 20, 2026 12:07 PM EDT WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has returned Poland's highest state honor, after the Polish president stripped him of the award as a politically charged dispute over World War II history resurfaced. Ukrainians believed the order "was meant for the Ukrainian People and our army," Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post explaining the gesture. "Today, I sent the Order back to the President of Poland. I believe the future will confirm the respect Ukrainians deserve." The message published on X is accompanied by photos of the Polish order and a postal receipt that it was about to be mailed to the Polish presidential office. READ MORE: Poland and Lithuania explore playing bigger role in NATO's nuclear deterrence President Karol Nawrocki decided to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle over the Ukrainian leader's decision to name a military unit after a Ukrainian paramilitary organization accused of massacring Poles during WWII. Former Polish President Andrzej Duda bestowed the award on Zelenskyy in 2023 for services to security, resilience and the defense of human rights. Zelenskyy issued a decree on May 26 naming a unit of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, or UPA, which operated during the 1940s and 1950s and has been accused in Poland of mass killings. "For the majority of Polish society, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains above all a formation responsible for cruel crimes against the citizens of the Polish Republic during World War II," Nawrocki said in a 13-minute address on social media. Zelenskyy's move reopened old wounds in Poland The Ukrainian decree was met with widespread criticism in Poland, which has hosted millions of Ukrainian refugees and is a key supporter of Kyiv as it battled Russia's four-year invasion. However, Nawrocki is a nationalist politician who has exploited anti-Ukrainian sentiment for electoral gain. Ukrainians in Poland have been facing increasing prejudice despite their contribution to the economy. The decision to revoke the honor did not mean Poland's support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia would decrease, Nawrocki said. Ukraine is grateful to Poland for its support, and would stay open to resolve historical differences with Poland, Zelenskyy wrote Saturday in his post. "I am proud of our people and of EVERY Ukrainian warrior." READ MORE: Poland turns to Ukraine for drone warfare expertise after Russian weapons enter ai