The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine sharply criticized the Polish side’s decision regarding the establishment of a day of remembrance for the victims of the Volyn Tragedy and called for a measured approach to historical issues, emphasizing that such steps in advance complicate bilateral dialogue and interstate cooperation
Kyiv believes that Poland's efforts to honor the victims through the unilateral declaration of July 11 as a remembrance day contradict the principles of good neighborliness and undermine the reconciliation efforts ongoing between the two countries. The statement from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), disseminated by the information agency "European Truth," was made on June 5 and was a reaction to the Polish Sejm’s decision, which was adopted in the same month. It states that such actions do not contribute to achieving a shared understanding of historical events and do not help build trust between Ukraine and Poland. The Ukrainian foreign ministry emphasized that Ukraine consistently advocates for the scientific, objective, and impartial study of historical facts, including difficult and painful aspects of history that are significant for both nations. The MFA highlighted that the path to true reconciliation lies through dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation between historians, rather than through political declarations that could only deepen conflicts and create new tensions. Furthermore, Ukrainian diplomats called on Poland to refrain from unilateral steps that could lead to escalation in bilateral relations and undermine the already achieved positive results of cooperation. Special attention was drawn to the importance of not seeking enemies among Ukrainians in Poland, and vice versa, and not accusing the Poles—since the true enemy for both is the common aggressor and destructive force, Russia. The background of tense historical issues between Ukraine and Poland dates back to 2015-2017, when Ukrainian monuments were massively destroyed in Polish towns and villages. This elicited mixed reactions from Kyiv: on one side, Ukrainian officials strongly condemned such actions; on the other, they introduced so-called moratoria on searches and exhumations of Polish victims from 1943–1945, murdered by members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). These restrictions stemmed from unresolved issues regarding the search for and burial of the remains of the deceased and became a key reason for prolonged disputes in bilateral relations. Specifically, the Polish side, led by then-Prime Minister Donald Tusk, openly pressured Ukrainian authorities to lift these moratoria, openly stating that resolving historical claims with Kyiv would be one of the conditions for Ukraine’s future political and economic cooperation with the European Union. During this period, particular emphasis was placed on the exhumation of Polish victims who died in 1943-45, as well as the conduct of joint research aimed at alleviating tensions and restoring trust. Despite diplomatic tensions, in late April of this year, an exhumation process was initiated in the Ternopil region, on the former lands of the village Puzhnyky, of Polish remains killed in 1945. This marked a significant breakthrough in the often contentious and complex historical relations between the two countries. Pavel Koval, head of the Polish-Ukrainian working group on historical dialogue, described this step as important and symbolic—believing it opens a new chapter in relations and promotes further steps toward reconciliation and understanding. However, such initiatives also provoke mixed reactions from various political and civic forces, as historical memory remains one of the most sensitive issues in Polish-Ukrainian relations and can easily escalate into new conflicts if a constructive dialogue and joint pursuit of truth are not maintained. Overall, the situation remains tense and requires a delicate and cautious approach from both sides. It is important to remember that the main enemy in the history of both nations is not each other but a common external foe—Russia—that seeks to divide and weaken Ukrainian-Polish relations, interfere in their internal dialogue, and exploit any opportunities to heighten conflicts. That is why Ukrainian diplomatic circles strongly urge the pursuit of mutual understanding, the preservation of friendly and equal relations, and emphasize that true healing and reconciliation with the past can only be achieved through a judicious, joint historical dialogue and constructive cooperation.