Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha commented on Poland’s criticism over President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to award the honorary name “Heroes of the UPA” to the Separate Special Operations Center “North” of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Special Operations Forces.
Source: Censor.NET
Sybiha reminded that in recent years Ukraine and Poland have gradually restored constructive dialogue, including unblocking search and exhumation processes, conducting reburials of victims, and resuming the work of a congress of historians. According to him, this has helped move difficult historical issues into the sphere of professional academic discussion.
The minister stressed that such an approach based on mutual respect should not be undermined, and that emotional escalation only harms relations between the two countries.
“Especially at a time when all of us — Ukrainians, Poles, and other Europeans — are once again facing a threat from Russia. We must not forget that fighting against each other can lead us to the edge of an abyss,” he said.
Sybiha called for reducing tensions and focusing on joint efforts to counter the Russian threat and strengthen European security.
He also emphasized that the unit’s name was chosen by the military themselves, and that Ukrainian defenders, in his words, had no anti-Polish intent. The minister noted that it is about honoring those who in different historical periods fought against imperial Moscow.
Separately, Sybiha thanked Poland for its support of Ukraine during the war and called for further dialogue in a spirit of mutual understanding and partnership.
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