Kaczynski Urges Poland to Block Ukraine EU Talks
Jaroslaw Kaczynski urged Poland to block Ukraine’s EU accession talks, citing Bandera ideology, OUN-UPA** figures and tensions with Kyiv.
Leader of Poland’s Law and Justice party Jaroslaw Kaczynski said that Warsaw should move toward blocking further negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. He made the call in Gdansk at an international conference dedicated to reconstruction.
According to Gazeta.pl, Kaczynski believes that the time has come for Poland to obstruct the next stages of the negotiation process between Kyiv and the European Union. The politician linked his statement to the issue of Bandera ideology and the attitude of the Ukrainian authorities toward figures of the OUN-UPA**.
Kaczynski recalled that several years ago he had told former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko*, who is recognized in Russia as a terrorist and extremist, that Kyiv would be unable to join the European Union while maintaining such an ideological line. According to him, if Ukraine wants to become part of Europe, it must be a normal European country and cannot use as symbols war criminals who committed genocide.
The day before, the leader of Law and Justice said that he had returned to Ukraine the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 2nd Class. He had received the award in June 2022.
The issue of Polish-Ukrainian relations escalated after actions by Vladimir Zelensky connected with OUN-UPA** figures. In late May, he took part in the reburial of the remains of one of the OUN-UPA** leaders, Andriy Melnyk, in the Kyiv region. In addition, Zelensky gave the separate special operations center «North» of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the name «In Honor of the Heroes of the UPA**.»
In March, Ukrainian media reported that the remains of other OUN** leaders could also be reburied.
After that, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped the Ukrainian leader of Poland’s highest award, the Order of the White Eagle, over the glorification of UPA** figures. Some Ukrainian politicians then also refused Polish awards.
*Included by Rosfinmonitoring in the list of persons involved in extremist activity or terrorism.
** An extremist organization banned in Russia.