Zelenskyy visits Poland amid breakthrough on Volyn tragedy

His visit signifies a major milestone in the countries’ prolonged historical disagreement.

Polish Defense Minister Accuses Ukraine of ‘Losing Memory’ Over Zelenskyy’s Criticism

It comes after Ukraine agreed to allow the first exhumations of victims – an issue that had been a point of contention between the two countries for years.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gave a positive response to the decision, but Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha viewed it as a strategic disadvantage for Moscow.

The Poland-Ukraine Volhynia Massacres dispute.

On July 24, Poland’s Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland could not fully support Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union until the long-standing historical issue regarding the Volhynia tragedy is resolved.

Ukraine and Poland agree to exchange lists of sites for the exhumation of victims of the Volhynia Massacre.

On September 19, the Polish news outlet Onet, quoting government sources, stated that Poland’s Foreign Ministry intends to use Ukraine’s aspirations to join the EU as a bargaining tool to influence Kyiv on issues related to exhumation.

On September 24, Polish President Andrzej Duda criticized Kosiniak-Kamysz’s comments, labeling them “a component of [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin’s political strategy.”

Later, Duda also stated that a “breakthrough” in historical disputes between Poland and Ukraine was necessary — but not through “coercive intimidation.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced on October 1 that his country was willing to engage in talks with Polish officials regarding historical disputes.

Polish President Duda vowed not to use the historical dispute as leverage in his country’s relations with Ukraine.

On November 27, Polish and Ukrainian Foreign Ministers, Radosław Sikorski and Andrii Sybiha, met in Warsaw and released a joint statement saying that Ukraine will no longer stop exhumation efforts on its territory.

The Volyn tragedy

The Volyn tragedy took place in 1943 when the Polish Home Army and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army carried out campaigns of ethnic cleansing against each other. Ukrainian historians claim that more than 100,000 Poles and 40,000 Ukrainians were killed in this conflict, with survivors describing intense brutality from both sides.

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The New Face of Ukraine

Section: Nation

Author: Дарина Халперина