Poland Revokes Zelenskyy's Highest Honor: White Eagle Order Returned to Warsaw.

Polish President Strips Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle

According to Novyny.live: Poland’s President, Karol Nawrocki, has formally revoked the Order of the White Eagle from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This prestigious decoration, Poland’s highest state honor, will now be kept at the Chancellery of the President of Poland. According to the official decree, the award has already been mailed back to the government office.

The accompanying official certificate will also be voided. Both the medal and its related documents will be transferred to the archives of the Presidential Chancellery. This decision follows Zelenskyy’s recent move to name a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit after the 'Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)', a group whose legacy remains deeply contentious in Polish-Ukrainian relations.

Reaction to the Decision

President Nawrocki stressed that stripping Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle is not an act of aggression toward the Ukrainian people. He emphasized that

“Russia is the enemy of Ukraine, of all free Europe, and of the free world”

“Poland’s highest state award will remain securely under the protection of the chancellery”

The incident has sparked widespread public debate, as the award originally symbolized strong cooperation between Ukraine and Poland. However, the Polish president’s action highlights the strained ties between the two nations over issues of historical memory and modern political realities.

Revoking Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle signals growing tensions in Ukrainian-Polish relations, particularly regarding historical disputes over the UPA and its role during World War II. This move could also impact future political and diplomatic relations between the two countries, which have recently worked closely together in countering Russian aggression.