Ukraine and Poland Ease Tensions Over Massacre Victims
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said that there are “no obstacles” to Poland conducting exhumation work on the victims of a massacre in Ukraine during World War II. This comes after previous tension between the two countries over the matter.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a statement, “Each family has the right to honor the memory of their ancestors with dignity.” He also mentioned that his country is working on practical mechanisms to resolve matters related to searches and exhumations.
The Volyn massacres took place in 1943 during World War II. Thousands of Poles were killed by Ukrainian forces, while thousands of Ukrainians were also killed in retaliation. This has been a contentious topic between Ukraine and Poland, causing diplomatic tensions in the past.
In September, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski demanded that Ukraine allow the exhumation of the victims’ bodies and warned against expecting a quick EU accession. President Volodymyr Zelensky was reportedly frustrated with this demand.
However, with a new joint statement between the two countries, tensions seem to be easing. The statement mentions “historical misunderstandings” between the two nations but does not explicitly mention the massacre.
A joint Ukrainian-Polish working group will oversee the exhumation of the victims’ bodies. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that this agreement is “key to full reconciliation between our nations.”
Despite historical grievances, Poland has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. They have provided billions of dollars in aid and hosted millions of Ukrainian refugees.
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