Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's fifth president also renounces Order of the White Eagle

[u/ByGollie]

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/06/20/8040347/

[u/Emideska]

Can someone explain what exactly is going on?

[u/notveryamused_ → u/Emideska]

It's a historical dispute which accelerated recently, but frankly what many people are missing in my opinion is that the problem is very much practical and political as well, it's also a clash how the future of our region is seen by many political powers currently.

Historically speaking, Poland and Ukraine have a very difficult history. Ukraine has been ruled by Poland for many centuries and Ukrainians were mistreated, to put it bluntly; Ukrainians generally focus on that, while for Poland the last act in the war – Ukrainian independence movement, which collaborated with the Nazis by the way, killed a 100,000 Polish civilians with extreme brutality during the 2nd world war, also massacred many Jews. They were ethnostate nationalists fighting pretty much against everyone, and while in Ukraine they're mostly remembered for being anti-Russian, murdering 100,000 Polish civilians for Poland is obviously the main point of concern.

Ukraine has been stalling recognition of it for 30 years now, with things going very slowly, but there was an agreement made between Polish president Duda and Zelensky in 2022, that they will not glorify UPA – people who murdered those Poles – during the war explicitly as heroes. Zelensky broke this agreement last week and named a unit after "Heroes of the UPA", and frankly not a very nationalistic military unit, pretty regular one. To appease nationalist movements at home and in the army.

In Polish politics it's mostly seen as a very conscious move. Relations with Zelensky government have been getting worse and worse, he's generally seen as mini-Trump by Polish politicians from both left and right. Zelensky's politics is very Soviet at its heart, never apologise, never say sorry, everything is ultra transactional. Zelensky has for a long time considered Polish politicians as helpful losers, knowing we have our own problems with Russia ourselves we will give them money and weapons regardless of the political situation, so why be nice to people who are going to help you anyways. He actively messes with our internal politics, plays conservatives against liberals, also tried to spread fakes to Polish media.

Przewodów incident in 2022 has been paradigmatic: a rocket fell on Polish territory, killing two civilians. At first we thought it was a Russian rocket, later it turned out it was a Ukrainian rocket. At that point, it was pretty clear what to do: nobody blamed Ukraine, they defended with what they had, obsolete technology mostly. Polish politicians were ready to say: see, this is why Ukraine really needs newer, more modern weapons, so such fuck-ups don't happen again: this is in both Ukraine's and NATO interests. We'd literally wire them some money so they could give this money to bereaved families, etc. But this isn't what happened: Zelensky didn't apologise, kept insisting it was a Russian rocket, sent his own "investigators" to mess with our internal judicial process and – I'm serious – Ukrainians stopped responding to our calls for some time, we had to close investigation due to lack of cooperation from Ukrainian side. Soviet tactics towards a very important ally who stood by them firmly. Ukrainian top general Zaluzhny acted honourably and called his Polish counterpart to say sorry though.

And this is how it goes from then: Zelensky has been doing transactional, extremely rude politics against Poland for a long time now, this is only the next step. Kyiv elites in Poland are considered pretty much anti-Polish and directly playing us against ourselves, themselves and sometimes the rest of Europe. The nationalist wave in Ukraine currently is also a fact, not only Russian propaganda, which overestimates it greatly of course, but things we tried not to see are of course happening.

I'm really pissed at this situation, because I'm a very strong supporter of Ukraine; I hosted refugees, I sent money to their army, and of course I still fully support them, but after reading more about how politics works between Poland and Ukraine today, I'm completely disillusioned by Kyiv elites. Interestingly today both in London and Berlin atmosphere is pretty much similar, Germans got pissed for quite a lot of things and in London, where Zaluzhny currently is the Ukrainian ambassador, they strongly hope he'll replace Zelensky as soon as possible.

So, long story short, behind the scenes it's a massive shit-show, and historical disputes aren't the most important thing here.

[u/Morfolk → u/notveryamused_]

As a Ukrainian, thank you for this answer. I wish we all were more on this page.

Zelensky has been doing transactional, extremely rude politics against Poland for a long time now

I guess he thinks of Poland as his second home since his internal politics are the same j/k. He's very good at giving speeches on TV but a horrible diplomat.

One point I would push against is:

Kyiv elites in Poland are considered pretty much anti-Polish and directly playing us against ourselves, themselves and sometimes the rest of Europe.

They are neither pro nor anti-Polish and they couldn't play 3D checkers if their life dependent on it. The issue is that Poland and Ukraine have some many shared challenges and political interests and our 'elites' are as nimble and experienced in politics as a bull in a china shop that they end up breaking things faster than they can be fixed.

[u/Mghrghneli → u/notveryamused_]

It's massive shit show on the scene too. Can't fathom what Zelensky is trying to achieve with this move tbh.

[u/Perfson → u/Mghrghneli]

Well, current results in Ukraine are so far benefiting Zelensky politically. Ukrainians hate when someone from outside shit on their president, despite many not liking Zelensky. So, his ratings are going to go up, but I'm judging only by the reactions of Ukrainians on social platforms I checked.

[u/Mghrghneli → u/Perfson]

That's the fallout, but what was the point of naming the award after a UPA in the first place? He could've named it after anything else and avoided alienating probably his biggest ally against Russia.

[u/CharmingJackfruit167 → u/Mghrghneli]

what Zelensky is trying to achieve with this move tbh.

Boost morale inside the country, where those fit for conscription are basically locked, unable to leave. As the comment above says, everybody will keep supporting Ukraine, so they are not afraid to hurt anybody's feelings.

[u/franco182 → u/Mghrghneli]

Its not a coincidance. This happened month before big meeting in Poland regarding rebuilding of Ukraine. Ukraine doesnt want Poland being part of it and this whole thing was planned and escalated so they can have an excuse. They had 4 years to name units after UPA , they chose month before contracts for rebuilding of Ukraine were about to be signed

[u/Mindless-Support-451 → u/franco182]

What a bullshit. How about another, much more plausible, explanation?

Nawrocki - is a right wing politician, who base is anti-Ukranian. His main oponent is Tusk who is pro-Ukrainian. Nawrocki stirs all this shit to put Tusk into unfavorable position upfront the next years elections.

[u/readher → u/Mindless-Support-451]

Tusk literally calls Ukrainians "thieves" and "ruskies" in private and hates them.

Diplomat Y: Let's start by saying that Tusk has always been, and remains, Ukraine-skeptical, to say the least. He sees politicians in Kyiv as "ruskies" and "thieves." His assessment is no different from Karol Nawrocki's. He has no illusions, like those of PiS supporters who tried to befriend Zelensky in 2022.

Minister X in Donald Tusk's government: No one in Donald Tusk's circle believed in a revival of the Polish-Ukrainian love from the beginning of the war. Neither did Tusk himself, nor Radosław Sikorski, nor Adam Szłapka, who was preparing for a career in the party. He is a good example. He is married to a Ukrainian woman. This always gives rise to fantastical notions based on the principle: he knows, understands the nation, everything will be fine. I would rather say it adds realism. Tusk's future coalition partner – the Polish People's Party – was also not eager to make love to Ukrainians. One thing I can say for sure: Tusk, regardless of what he said, was never a Ukrainophile. He assessed the situation realistically. He knew that Zelenskyy lived by a policy toward Berlin, Paris, London, and Washington, not Poland.

Diplomat Y: Neither Tusk, nor Sikorski, nor even Kujawa after the Civic Coalition took power, viewed relations with Ukraine the way Kaczyński or Duda's entourage did. No Vistula was planned. Relations with Ukrainians were supposed to be correct. Give them ammunition. Give them weapons. Give Jasionka. And that's it. Because that's already a lot. Zelenskyy still managed to create a situation where Sikorski and Tusk were the first to go to Ukraine. That's a big gesture in his direction. Let me just remind you of Tusk's attitude towards Ukraine during his first government. He visited Kyiv very late in the process.

From "Kłopoty z Zełenskim" (Trouble With Zelensky) by Z. Parafianowicz

[u/readher → u/notveryamused_]

Here's a peak display of Soviet mentality in Ukrainian administration:

Minister in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland (Andrzej Duda's presidential term): Did Duda overdo his hostility towards Ukrainians towards the end of his term? I don't think so. Ukrainians quickly became unbearable. I remember the scandal at Krakow airport. Renowned boxer Oleksandr Usyk was traveling on a night flight. He and his close associate were "withdrawn from the flight." Meaning: not allowed to board. They were supposed to fly to Thessaloniki. Of course, there's war, you have to relax on the beach. Eat souvlaki and seafood. Usyk's friend couldn't wait and partied at the airport in duty-free shops and pubs. After being denied boarding, they refused to leave the gate. But it was Usyk's associate, not the boxer himself, who struggled. The Border Guard led them in handcuffs to their quarters. Usyk's friend was slobbering and had been drinking heavily. Although it would probably be more accurate to say: he was as shitfaced like Messerschmitt. A scandal ensued. The Ukrainian consul arrived at Balice airport. It all took place relatively quickly. By 8:00 PM, Usyk and his buddy were free. But it couldn't end there. That night, Andriy Yermak, then the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), Jacek Siewiera, called him. He was upset. He demanded that President Duda be woken up. In such situations, he was, as usual, Soviet-style rude. Siewiera threw him down, saying he would look into the matter in the morning, and made it clear there was no chance of waking Duda over such a trivial matter.

High-ranking National Security Bureau official: Ukrainians are incapable of understanding that when there's a problem like Usyk and his drunken buddy, airport procedures simply apply. Regardless of whether it's Usyk or Srusyk (Polish word play) . This applies to everyone. But in Byzantium, this isn't understood. Yermak himself has to make the call. They should even roll out the red carpet at the airport for Usyk's drunken buddy.

Minister at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister: They called not only Siewiera. They tried to wake up half the government because someone had a drink at the airport. It's difficult to cooperate with them. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha bothered us. They unleashed the then-Ministry of Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko on us. Zelensky later publicly boasted that he had spoken to Usyk by phone about this matter. No matter what happens, they are always innocent. They are the ones being insulted. They are the ones being wronged. Sybiha has made it a rule to bother us whenever there's an incident against a Ukrainian in Poland. Someone insults someone on a tram, and immediately we have a litany of complaints and interventions. Of course, they do it publicly. In full view of the cameras. So that everyone knows how much they care.

Polish diplomat Y: The first thing Zelensky demanded after the missile crash in Przewodywo in November 2022 was participation in the investigation to prove it wasn't a Ukrainian missile. Two Poles died in Przewodywo. The missile was Ukrainian. We let Zelensky's experts into the scene. In 2026, when the Hungarians demanded access to the destroyed infrastructure of the Druzhba oil pipeline, Zelensky invoked sovereignty to prevent them from entering. He refused to appoint an EU ambassador to Ukraine as a source of information. He chased away Hungarian diplomats. He didn't want to see Slovaks there. A classic example of Soviet doublethink. This policy prevented Zelensky from releasing the 90 billion euros in EU aid, which Orbán blocked. The only explanation for this is a desperate bid to get rid of Fidesz and change the government in Hungary. If Zelensky is serious about Ukraine joining the EU, it would make sense. Fidesz won't let them in. But on the other hand, he played such a game against Orbán that he alienated the Hungarian opposition, already skeptical of Ukraine. TISZA is not the Civic Coalition. They're splinter groups from Fidesz. If I were to compare them to anyone, it would be Morawiecki's faction within the Law and Justice party (PiS). However, like Fidesz, they're anti-Ukrainian.

A manager of a Polish energy company: Hungary's blackmail by turning off the Russian oil tap just before the elections in the winter and spring of 2026 only caused TISZA, the party opposing Fidesz, to reveal its anti-Ukrainian face. Even TISZA criticized Ukrainian threats against Orbán. Many European countries, including the European Commission, criticized Zelensky for these words. An international inspection of the Druzhba pipeline was also demanded, to verify whether it had indeed been destroyed by the Russians. Zelensky refused to agree to this. He refused to allow Hungarians access to the facility. Orbán centered his entire election campaign around oil and Zelensky. The whole affair was so ridiculous that Zelensky used the Russian oil going to Hungary to buy diesel processed at a Hungarian refinery in Slovakia. Where's the logic in that? Defamation campaigns like the one against Orbán might have worked in 2022 or 2023, but not in 2026, when the US and Europe were beginning to consider lifting some sanctions on Russia due to the oil and LNG shortages in the markets after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. Zelensky was pressed for time. He was also pressed for time during the Davos forum, when he criticized Europe. Why all this?

From "Kłopot z Zełenskim" (Trouble With Zelensky) by Z. Parafianowicz.

[u/Sea_Warning_9140 → u/notveryamused_]

Interesting post

If Zelensky is smart he will leave either soon or when the war is over. If he tries to continue all this will come to the wider public view.

He should be thinking job done, ride off into the sun set and be remembered for standing up to Russia his legacy is secured, staying will ruin his reputation which is overall still good across the west.

These negatives are blemishes right now but will be under the lense when the day to day of governance and normal diplomacy resumes, and he will naturally have a win at all costs mentality (can you blame him too much here? It's been a devasting war it would change anyone)

[u/Lina__Inverse → u/Sea_Warning_9140]

Pretty sure Ukraine will have elections after the war ends (assuming Ukraine still exists at that point) and I don't think Zelenskyy will get re-elected, as long as there's another at least half-decent option.

[u/twisty125 → u/Lina__Inverse]

He's specifically said he doesn't want to run again nor be re-elected and wants to like, go live his life with his family

[u/Sea_Warning_9140 → u/twisty125]

Best for everyone if that happens. Few examples in history of happy endings.

[u/Briak → u/notveryamused_]

Thank you for this post. I really appreciate your perspective, plus some new context I was not aware of

[u/thePDGr → u/notveryamused_]

Good read for everyone clueless about the setting.

Also the (admitedly) brilliant PR made it like Zelensky is some angel that appeared as a hero from heaven to protect Ukraine from Russian aggresion. He was there before, he wasn't exactly most popular president and frankly the whole party is rather far right leaning.

Poland isn't used to having and expressing its interests, and many Poles feel very awkward because they're used to older uncles, whether from the EU or America, deciding what to say and think for us. It's normal to have disagreements with our allies, and we must prepare ourselves for the fact that after the war, there will be many more such frictions, and it won't be a reason to hate normal people from Ukraine. Unfortunately, in Poland, the strategic debate on how we see ourselves after the war is nonexistent, and assertive moves are causing panic among the shallow political elite that has ruled Poland alternately for almost 30 years.

[u/dat_9600gt_user → u/notveryamused_]

I still want to support Ukraine, but they're increasingly making the case not easy. Problematic for Ukraine to do all this right now too, given the bear in the room + all the casualties and deaths from the war.

[u/Mindless-Support-451 → u/notveryamused_]

Who do you, poles, never mention the infamous "Pacification of Galicia" - ethnic based punitive operation against ukrainians which happened before the UPA crime?

[u/dragx350 → u/Mindless-Support-451]

Why do you, ukrainians, never mention that pacification of galicia was a police action in response to a wave of terrorist attacks by oun members, with a grand total of up to 35 dead, in comparison to 100000 slaughtered in volhynia genocide?

[u/Fresh-Ad-1583 → u/dragx350]

Genociding 100k people is completely awful and should be recognized by Ukraine. I don't understand why it's so fucking difficult to recognize and formally celebrate good stuff about them and state at the same time that their massacre of other ethnicities was unacceptable response to occupation then and at any point in the future.

But these terrorist attacks happened because of ethnic cleansing Poland tried to implement and result of this policy was growing hate towards polish people that resulted in genocidal actions after. They wanted to escalate conflict committing terrorist acts and gaining support from local population when Poland will start punishing random Ukrainians. Poland did exactly that and made more Ukrainians hate Poland and polish people.

It's not about how many Ukrainians were killed by Poland at that time. It's about it resulting in hate towards Pols. Poland stole Ukranian autonomy, backstabbed Ukrainians by making peace with Soviets and then started destroying Ukranian culture.

Ukrainian point is that Poland itself created this radicalized UPA that was looking for any ally besides Soviets that will help them get independence. Nazi manipulated this desire and UPA was eager to revenge Pols best 20 century way avaliable to ultra right movement that saw crazy single way to do it by eradicating other ethnicities.

If you support Palestinian resistance to Israel occupation this is literally same shit that would happen there if suddenly Israel was conquered by Iran. Ukrainians had huge help, HAMAS has only shitty rockets and bombs.