After V. Zelensky’s decision, anger in Poland: “We will not allow ourselves to be insulted”

“After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned the Order of the White Eagle to Poland by mail, the office of Polish President Karol Nawrocki assessed this move as another insult to Poles. This position was expressed on the social network “X” by Agnieszka Jędrychak, Minister of the Office of the President of Poland. The office also explained why the same award was not revoked for Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, Russian Empress Catherine II and German politician, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, considered pro-Russian. According to A. Jędrychak, the first two persons are deceased, and Poland does not revoke orders after death.

 

Speaking about G. Schröder, she said that he “never insulted the Polish people as openly as the President of Ukraine”, although she assessed his activities in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin as harmful to Poland and Europe. “Under G. Schröder’s rule, not a single monument to Hitler or Himmler was erected in Germany. Not a single Bundeswehr unit was named after “SS heroes”, – stated A. Jędrychak. She also noted that V. Zelensky, when accepting the award three years ago, “did not complain that it had been received” by B. Mussolini or G. Schröder. According to the minister, by returning the award by courier, the President of Ukraine added another insult to what she said was an already existing dispute over the name of a Ukrainian military unit associated with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

 

A. Jędrychak said that the essence is “a deliberate insult to the Polish people by the Ukrainian leader.” She emphasized that, in her opinion, Poland has demonstrated sincere friendship to Ukraine over the past four years. “You cannot respect people who killed tens of thousands of your helpers’ ancestors. When someone extends a helping hand and you willingly accept it, you cannot insult the person who is helping you. Let’s be frank: President Karol Nawrocki revoked the order, but he did not revoke his extended hand. We support Ukraine, but we will not allow anyone to insult us,” A. Jędrychak stated."