Poland blocks Ukraine’s accession to the European Union: main reasons named

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Poland Wladyslaw Kosińska-Kamyś stated that Ukraine will have no chance of joining the EU if it does not recognize the Volyn tragedy of 1943-1944 and does not honor the memory of Polish victims. The politician also supported the idea of criminalizing “Bandera symbols”, but stressed that such decisions should not become a tool of Russian propaganda.

This is reported by PAP .

According to the Polish official, Ukraine must go through the path of reconciliation with the historical past, because “the genocide of Poles in Volhynia is one of the most terrible crimes of the 20th century.”

“I have said this many times – if Ukraine does not come to terms with the genocide in Volhynia, if there is no exhumation or commemoration, it will have no chance of joining the European Union,” the politician emphasized.

Kosiniak-Kamysz also confirmed that his political force, the Polish Peasant Party (PSL), advocates the introduction of criminal liability for the propaganda of “Bandera symbols.” At the same time, he emphasized that such decisions should be made taking into account the fact that Russia is currently actively using narratives about “fascists in Ukraine.”

“In a full-scale war, one should always be careful. Bandera was a criminal — there is no doubt about that. But when the Russians call the Ukrainian authorities fascists, we should not play along with this rhetoric,” the minister said.

The politician also expressed criticism of the behavior of some young Ukrainians who are in Poland.

“I see them driving around Poland in the newest cars and not taking part in the defense of their homeland,” he noted.

Kosiniak-Kamysh stated that the issue of Volhynia is of fundamental importance for Poland.

“The genocide in Volyn is one of the most terrible acts of terror against a nation in the history of our civilization. Ukraine must answer for this. There must be monuments, exhumation, and a dignified burial. We will never back down from this.”

At the same time, he added that refusing to help Ukraine, which is fighting against Russia, would be contrary to the interests of Poland itself.

“Helping Ukraine also means building a safe Poland,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

The minister noted that Poland must simultaneously care about historical memory and not allow these topics to become part of the Russian information campaign.

“You can do it the way we do it, the way I do it, or you can just play on emotions and not achieve the goal,” he concluded.

Recall that Ukraine allowed Poland to conduct exhumation work on Polish soldiers who died in 1939 and were buried within the borders of Lviv. It should be noted that in April , the remains of Poles who died in 1945 began to be exhumed in the village of Puzhnyky in the Ternopil region . Earlier, the Polish Sejm approved a new public holiday. On July 11, Poles will remember “the victims of the genocide committed by the OUN and the UPA in the eastern lands of the Second Polish Republic.”

By the way, Ukraine warned the Polish side that any actions to equate Ukrainian symbols with Nazi and communist symbols will require an appropriate response.

At the same time, Poland is suspending Starlink funding for Ukraine after President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a law that would have allowed continued support through the Ukraine Assistance Fund.

It was previously reported that Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the law on providing social assistance and free medical care to Ukrainian citizens staying in the country.

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