10/30/2024 — Polish President Duda promises no blackmail over historical dispute with Ukraine
By Dal Stanton on October 29, 2024
Andrzej Duda (Photo: Kancelaria Prezydenta/X)
From: New Voice of Ukraine 🇺🇦
Poland will not use the Volyn tragedy to blackmail Ukraine into receiving military aid only after an apology, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with Radio Zet on Oct. 29.
“Of course, it would be possible to blackmail Ukraine when Ukraine already had a Russian knife at its throat, but please find another politician for that, as I do not act with such methods,” said Duda.
Asked why Ukraine is conducting exhumations and burials of German Wehrmacht soldiers but not of the victims of the Volyn tragedy, Duda stated that Ukraine and Germany are currently close countries, given the large number of Ukrainians living in Germany, including those who fled the Soviet Union, adding that the issue of the Volyn tragedy is “uncomfortable” for Ukrainians.
“The topic of the Volyn crime is a very uncomfortable topic for Ukrainians, while the issue of exhumations of Wehrmacht soldiers is a neutral topic for Ukraine,” the Polish leader said.
The Volyn tragedy occurred in 1943 when the Polish Home Army and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army carried out mutual ethnic cleansing of Poles and Ukrainians. According to Ukrainian researchers, over 100,000 Poles and 40,000 Ukrainians were killed in the Volyn region. Witnesses of those events note the unimaginably brutal methods of retaliation from both sides.
Background on Poland-Ukraine discussions over the Volyn tragedy
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated on July 24 that Warsaw would not agree to Ukraine joining the EU until both countries settle disputes over the events in Volyn during World War II.
Onet reported on Sept. 19, citing its own sources, that the Polish Foreign Ministry allegedly plans to use Ukraine’s EU aspirations as leverage over Kyiv in the coming months, particularly concerning the exhumation of Volyn tragedy victims.
Polish President Andrzej Duda criticized Kosiniak-Kamysz’s remarks on Sept. 24, calling such statements “a part of Putin’s policy.”
Later, Duda also said that there should be a breakthrough in the “problematic” historical issues of relations between Poland and Ukraine, but not as a result of “unceremonious blackmail.”
Read also:
Poland’s Foreign Ministry calls for ‘decisions, not plans’ on Volyn Tragedy exhumations
Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Oct. 1 that Ukraine is ready to discuss contentious issues of shared history with its Polish counterparts.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski said that during the first phase of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, Poland will raise the issue of exhuming Polish victims of the Volyn tragedy.
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Poland scales back military support to Ukraine, citing national defense priorities
UAWIRE
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Poland’s President has clarified that Kyiv no longer considers Warsaw one of its pivotal partners due to the scaled-back military assistance. He highlighted, however, that Poland cannot provide the promised MiG-29 jets to Ukraine until NATO offers assurances for the defense of Polish airspace.
In a discussion with Radio Zet, President Andrzej Duda noted that Polish-Ukrainian relations have shifted amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict since his country can’t provide military aid at the levels seen two years ago. “In some sense, this might seem to be the case,” Duda stated when queried if Ukraine sees Poland differently.
During the interview, Duda explained that the pledged MiG-29 jets would be withheld until NATO secures Polish skies, and Warsaw is awaiting delivery of more modern aircraft from Western partners as replacements.
When asked about bilateral relations, Duda expressed that Ukraine has stopped considering Poland a significant ally due to diminished Polish armament supplies, which no longer match offerings from other Western nations.
In response to whether he felt anger toward Volodymyr Zelensky for not sharing secret plans for victory, Duda mentioned that Zelensky is likely under pressure from main military benefactors, which significantly shapes his decisions. “Life is harsh,” Duda remarked.
While touching on strategic perspectives, he emphasized that an autonomous Ukraine aligns with Poland’s interests and expressed a desire for solid and friendly bilateral relations.
On October 25, President Duda stated that Poland would not transfer the South Korean weapons it acquired in recent years to Ukraine, even with Seoul’s approval. He argued that such weaponry, purchased with Polish taxpayer money, should solely ensure Poland’s own security.
Previously, on October 23, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, suggested during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Ukraine could benefit more from redirected German financial aid currently given to Ukrainian refugees.
“Life is harsh,” Duda remarked.”
What a glib, heartless comment. Lousy.
Just when you need reliable friends, you get that crap instead.
The putler Turd Reich goes from strength to strength with its reliable axis of evil. Ukraine feels more isolated each day. How will they feel if, God forbid, the dwarf nazi gets his man in on Nov 6th?
I think by withholding weapons, Poland is indeed blackmailing Ukraine because of the Volyn massacre. I wish Zelensky and co. would get this sore issue cleared, once and for all. If Ukraine is guilty, so be it. Get it done, admit it, and do whatever else necessary to resolve this stupid issue. Germany and Japan also admitted their massive crimes in WWII, and the countries still live and thrive.