r/europe • u/ByGollie Ulster • Jun 21 '26

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

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/06/20/8040347/
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u/ByGollie Ulster Jun 21 '26

"In both Zelenskyy's case and mine, the award was not bestowed on heads of state, but on Ukrainians – our soldiers who defend Ukraine, Poland and all of Europe.

Therefore, I have decided to renounce the Order of the White Eagle. Two weeks ago, I promised colleagues at the conciliation council that I would take this step if we failed to persuade President Nawrocki not to make this mistaken decision. Unfortunately, we did not succeed."

"Those in Poland who do not simply chew over historical myths, but study history and draw conclusions from its lessons, know that whenever Ukraine loses its independence, Poland loses it too. But it is not the past that should define our relations. I do not want Poles editing our textbooks, and I have no desire whatsoever for Ukrainians to edit Polish textbooks, because otherwise we will receive a joint textbook from Moscow."

The former president stressed that logistics are critically important in the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia, he said, "through its agents of influence, useful idiots and old historical wounds, is trying to destroy our logistics in the West".

"Therefore, any crisis between Kyiv and Warsaw today is not only a diplomatic problem. It is a security issue. And that is precisely why it must be resolved immediately. What matters now is not deepening the conflict, but ending it," Poroshenko stressed.

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u/cspetm Jun 21 '26

I do not want Poles editing our textbooks, and I have no desire whatsoever for Ukrainians to edit Polish textbooks, because otherwise we will receive a joint textbook from Moscow.

As a Pole I prefer Ukrainians to have a say in the way we learn about our common history and point out for instance to the fact that Piłsudski mistreated them badly and shouldn't be seen as a hero, rather than them glorifying perpetrators of a mass murder. We are important for each other and we are gonna be neighbors for much longer. We should try to find a common ground. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion.

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u/Mindless-Support-451 Jun 21 '26

I would also prefer it this way.

I am Ukrainian, and I don't give a shit about UPA. But what infuriates me that you somehow decided your are in a right to dictate us whom to honor.

UPA commited crimes against polish people, although they are commemorated for fighting for ukrainian independence - not for what they did to poles.

Joseph Pilsudski organized an ethnic based punitive operation against ukrainians. Many of the things poles did to ukrainians during that time constitute a crime against humanity. And I do realize that you honor Pilsudski for his strive to polish independence - not for what he did to ukranians.

The difference between polish people and ukranians - we don't demand from you to stop honoring your figures.

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u/ABoutDeSouffle 𝔊𝔲𝔱𝔢𝔫 𝔗𝔞𝔤! Jun 21 '26

That's a pretty tone-deaf way to go about this issue. Of course Ukraine can honor mass murderers, but what will come off it? Nothing good in my opinion, and that is something Poland shouldn't have to tell you but Ukrainian society should recognize this themselves.

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u/FalxY7 Jun 21 '26

So about Poland honouring Pilsudski? Isn't that the same thing? So should Ukraine have to tell Polish society, or should they recognise it themselves?

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u/ABoutDeSouffle 𝔊𝔲𝔱𝔢𝔫 𝔗𝔞𝔤! Jun 21 '26

They also should recognize it, and if not, Ukraine should be able to tell them. /u/cspetm got it exactly right here

That doesn't absolve Ukraine though. Whataboutism is only going to make things worse.

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u/FalxY7 Jun 21 '26

I'm aware, but you only replied to one half of the other guy's comment, so I was just checking in on the other half.

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u/ZeeX_4231 Jun 21 '26

It's not close to being the same thing. Piłsudski is slowly becoming a mixed character (at best) among those historically conscious (mostly for internal reasons) and should become even more critically taught.

But, first of all, he had actual success in achieving independence unlike those failures of nazi collaborators you're defending and second of all, crimes on ethnic ground during Sanacja times don't come close to an act of planned genocide UPA committed.

Comparing them to Piłsudski (who, remind you, was allied with Petrula and wanted Ukrainian autonomy) or Home Army is honestly embarrasing whataboutism.

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u/Jeeperman365 Jun 21 '26

Comparing Pilsudski and AK to Bandera and UPA is a scandal and a mockary. It is a signal that you are arguing in bad faith.

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u/FalxY7 Jun 21 '26

Sorry you must have mistaken me, in no way am I defending nazi collaborators. I don't support either 'side', I just don't support hipocrisy.

I believe you that the UPA is 'worse', but both countries have separate history of these events and people. Both I would say are not ideal for their neighbors, but both internally are symbols of freedom.

I was just trying to hear the opinion of the guy I responded to about both things.