Nawrocki mentions 'tense issues' in Independence Day letter to Zelenskyy – Polish official

Polish President Karol Nawrocki recently sent a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Independence Day, discussing the tensions between the two nations over historical matters. Polish presidential aide Marcin Przydacz revealed that Nawrocki wished Ukraine success against Russia in his letter, but acknowledged the existence of "contentious issues" that they hoped to gradually resolve.

Both countries shared an interest in maintaining good-neighborly relations based on principles such as historical truth, according to Przydacz. At present, there are no planned visits between the two leaders, with Nawrocki focusing on G20-related issues until December's summit. Zelenskyy, however, received numerous Independence Day messages from world leaders, including one from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, although Nawrocki's letter was not one of them.

On the same day as Nawrocki's letter, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized Moscow's imperial doctrine as the main issue for both Poland and Ukraine, stating that neither nation wanted to be a Russian colony. This decision came after Nawrocki revoked Zelenskyy's highest Polish state honor, the Order of the White Eagle, due to the Ukrainian military unit's naming after the "Heroes of the UPA."

Several Ukrainian officials returned their Polish state decorations in response, including Presidential Office head Kyrylo Budanov and former Presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko. Zelenskyy himself returned the Order of the White Eagle, sharing photos of the event. Despite efforts by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski to ease tensions, including a proposed meeting of historians and World War II experts, Nawrocki called for legislation banning the red-and-black flag used by the OUN and UPA at a recent remembrance event for Volhynia tragedy victims.