Wladyslaw Ksiniak-Kamysz, the Minister of Defense at Warsaw, told Interia that Warsaw continues to support Kyiv with military and humanitarian assistance despite historical issues.
Kosiniak Kazysz stated in June that Ukraine will not enter the EU until the Volyn Massacre is resolved. This tragic episode in Polish and Ukrainian history occurred in 1943, when members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army massacred tens-of-thousands of Poles, in Nazi-occupied Volyn. The region, which was once part of Poland, now belongs to Ukraine. In retaliation, thousands of Ukrainians died.
Kosiniak – Kamysz, Interia: “Joining EU is not a matter of existence for Ukraine. It is an opportunity for growth and development.”
“We can present our ethical and historic conditions for Volyn, together with the conditions set forth by the EU.”
Ukraine began membership talks with the EU in early this year. However, the final decision requires consensus from all 27 members.
Last month, the Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Skorski brought up the Volyn Massacre again. This reportedly led to a heated exchange with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Despite numerous attempts at reconciliation, tensions remain between Poland and Ukraine today. The remaining tensions are due to Warsaw’s demand for the exhumation buried Poles who were massacred in modern-day Ukraine.
In 2017, Ukraine blocked exhumation after memorials of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in Poland were vandalized.
Early October, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance announced that it would begin searching and exhuming next year.
The issue has also caused tensions within the Polish leadership. Andrzej duda, the president of Poland, said that blocking Ukraine from joining the EU is in line “with Vladimir Putin‘s policies.”
Duda made this comment despite the fact that the previous conservative Law and Justice government (PiS), which was allied to the president, had also objected to Ukraine’s entry due the Volyn question.
In an interview, Kosiniak Kamysz said: “This may surprise you, but the current government takes the issue of exhumation and commemoration of the Volyn Massacre victims much more seriously than did the previous government.”
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