Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has publicly condemned Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from Volodymyr Zelensky, labeling the move as a sign of immaturity among Polish decision-makers. Speaking to students at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Budanov warned that bilateral relations could deteriorate further if both sides do not ease tensions.
Budanov described the current state of Polish-Ukrainian ties as one of „diplomatic tension” but stopped short of calling it a full-blown conflict. – This is not yet a conflict. These are contradictions. This is not yet the peak, believe me. It will get worse if everyone does not back off a little – he assessed, as quoted by the RBK Ukraine news agency. The revocation follows Nawrocki’s decision to strip Zelensky of the prestigious order after Ukraine named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which is held responsible for the Volhynia massacres of Poles – events that Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance classifies as genocide.
A 'serious mistake’ with neighbors
Budanov did not mince words when describing the Polish president’s action. – I consider it a mistake. A serious mistake. There is an old rule that one should maintain good or neutral relations with neighbors. Tensions with neighbors always create problems, from political to economic – he said. He went on to call the decision an example of „immaturity” on the part of those in Poland who pushed for and then accepted the move. – I consider it immaturity. First of all, immaturity. I consider it immaturity of people in Poland who pushed for and then accepted this decision. It is very strange and was neither thought through nor prepared. If they were going to do something like that, they should first take away the medal from Mussolini – Budanov added, referring to the fact that the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini received the Order of the White Eagle in 1923.
Historical context and official stance
Budanov’s reference to Mussolini highlights a recurring point of contention: while the Order of the White Eagle was awarded to Mussolini nearly a century ago, Poland has not revoked it posthumously. The Polish Presidential Chancellery has repeatedly explained that the country does not revoke orders after the recipient’s death. The decision regarding Zelensky, however, was made while the Ukrainian president is still alive, making it a rare and deliberate act of diplomatic protest. Nawrocki’s office has justified the move by pointing to the Ukrainian government’s failure to address the glorification of UPA, which Polish authorities view as a neo‑nationalist organization tied to wartime atrocities against Poles.
The spat has already strained relations between Warsaw and Kyiv, which had been close allies since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Zelensky, after learning of the revocation, reportedly returned the order by mail, a gesture that further underscored the depth of the disagreement. Budanov’s comments suggest that unless Poland shows restraint, the relationship could slide from diplomatic tension into open conflict. – It will get worse if everyone does not back off a little – he repeated, urging a more measured approach from both capitals.
Analysts note that the dispute reflects broader historical grievances that continue to color Polish-Ukrainian relations, despite years of efforts to build a strategic partnership. The issue of the Volhynia massacres remains a raw nerve in Poland, where public opinion is sensitive to any perceived rehabilitation of UPA symbols. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s current government has struggled to balance its own national narrative with the need to maintain good ties with its western neighbor. The revocation of the Order of the White Eagle may now become a lasting symbol of these unresolved tensions.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
