Polish opposition leader says he will return Ukrainian State Order

Polish opposition leader and former prime minister Jarosław Kaczyński has announced that he will return Ukraine’s Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Second Class.

Kaczyński said the decision was intended as a statement of his attitude toward Ukraine’s political leadership and as an act of solidarity with Poland’s president, Caliber.Az reports, citing Polish media.

“I will also return the order because I hold a fairly high distinction — the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. It is the highest award, although not the First Class, as I am not a president. I hold the Second Class order. This will be an expression of my attitude, perhaps not so much toward the Ukrainian people as toward the Ukrainian elite. At the same time, it is an act of loyalty to our president; such acts are necessary today,” he noted.

Kaczyński argued that Ukraine is currently “rapidly escalating” its dispute with Poland.

In light of this, he believes Warsaw should block the opening of further negotiating clusters in Ukraine’s accession talks with the European Union.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov