Poland-Ukraine High-Stakes Dispute Is Far From Over

The Polish-Ukrainian historical dispute has already passed its hottest stage – at least for now. But it would be premature to say that it has been resolved, and the stakes are high. Social tensions on both sides of the border remain high. It is difficult to remember a time when issues concerning Poland were discussed so frequently in the Ukrainian media. The historical dispute is being debated, as are continued Polish support for Ukraine and Poland’s position on Ukraine’s path to EU membership.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. More recently, Ukrainian media have also been discussing the absence of Ukrainian military representatives from the parade marking Polish Armed Forces Day. The holiday is celebrated on August 15, the anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw and Poland’s victory in the war against the Bolsheviks. In reality, the participation of the Ukrainian military would have been largely symbolic, but it could have been used constructively by politicians. In 1920, many Ukrainians from Symon Petliura’s army fought alongside Poland. On the other hand, gestures of this kind require a favorable political climate. There is also no point in looking for problems where there are none; the parade is not what is at stake. What matters is substantive support for Ukraine. This includes Poland potentially supplying MiG-29 fighter jets in exchange for Ukrainian drone know-how, as well as the transit of Ukrainian grain at a time when Black Sea ports are blocked. Above all, it includes ammunition for Patriot systems, which can effectively intercept the Russian ballistic missiles terrorizing Ukrainian cities. Other Topics of Interest Polish Pilecki Institute Websites Hacked With Russian Propaganda Hackers breached the websites of a Polish historical institute, posting Russian propaganda and anti-Ukrainian narratives. Hands tied The issue is complicated, however, and Polish politicians are, in a sense, being left with their hands tied. One could argue that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s actions made the impossible possible: by naming a military unit after UPA heroes and, in what many in Poland perceived as a dismissive gesture, returning the Order of the White Eagle – one of Poland’s highest state decorations – by mail, he managed to anger Polish society across the political spectrum. And in a democracy, that inevitably affects politicians, who have to respond to public sentiment and channel it politically. Handing over Patriot missiles in the current circumstances – particularly when Polish society feels increasingly vulnerable following the recent incursion of a Russian missile into Polish territory – may not necessarily meet with public approval. Many may wonder why history should have such a direct impact on the present, especially during wartime. By naming a military unit after UPA heroes, Zelensky appears to Poles as having put them before an identity-based choice: support Ukraine or defend their own memory. One particularly deplorable side effect has been attacks on Ukrainians in Poland. There are countless videos of such incidents online. Although police statistics show an increase in attacks motivated by nationality, this is still not an everyday reality on the streets of Polish cities – particularly when one considers the scale and number of Ukrainians living in Poland. Fortunately, the police are also apprehending perpetrators quickly, and a large part of Polish society firmly opposes such trends. Neither side wanted the dispute The fact is that the current crisis emerged from inept handling of an extremely sensitive issue, rather than from a deliberate escalation designed to serve political interests. One indication of this is a report by the Polish daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna that Ukraine is planning to involve external actors to improve its image in Poland. Further exhumation work is being carried out in Volhynia, while public statements by, among others, Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar – who is soon expected to become Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister – have also taken a conciliatory tone. Poland’s authorities have likewise shown little appetite for a confrontation, as evidenced by the very fact that talks on military support are continuing. However, there is still little sign of a broader strategy for actually ending the dispute. Instead, both sides appear to be focused on putting out fires. Poland has consistently supported Ukraine since 1991. It was the first country in the world to recognize Ukraine’s independence. Later it supported the Orange Revolution, co-hosted Euro 2012, backed the Revolution of Dignity, and provided enormous assistance after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Until now, Polish policy toward Ukraine has largely operated on two separate tracks. Strategic and particular national interests were pursued independently, while historical issues followed a separate path. That may now change as public sentiment grows increasingly shaped by a perception that Kyiv has been dismissive of certain aspects of the relationship. Alongside its permanent support for Ukraine, the relationship has also been characterized by frequent political crises. As time goes on, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find satisfactory solutions – but also increasingly difficult for either side to back down. All of this means that the cost of resolving the crisis is rising. The crisis itself is also convenient for some political groups in both countries. Populists benefit from historical resentments. As we can see, the ultimate cost of these conflicts is high. Both sides stand to lose, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that Ukraine is in a much more difficult position. The coming days will show whether the two countries can resolve their outstanding problems and bring the talks concerning issues of fundamental importance to both sides to a productive conclusion. The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post. The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.