Ukrainian FM accuses Poland of “fueling a spiral of hatred”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has accused Poland of “fueling a spiral of hatred” amid a diplomatic row triggered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to name a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces unit after “heroes of the UPA” (Ukrainian Insurgent Army).

In a post on X, Sybiha said escalating tensions between Ukraine and Poland served neither Ukrainians nor Poles, Caliber.Az reports.

Eskałacja napięć między Ukrainą a Polską nie przynosi korzyści ani Ukraińcom, ani Polakom.

Przez niemal dwa lata krok po kroku odbudowywaliśmy konstruktywny dialog. Odblokowaliśmy poszukiwania i ekshumacje. Z godnością i zgodnie z chrześcijańską tradycją przeprowadziliśmy w…

— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) June 3, 2026

“For almost two years we have been gradually restoring constructive dialogue step by step… This is an absolutely correct approach based on mutual respect, recognition and honesty. It must not be undermined or turned into a spiral of hatred. Especially in a situation when all of us — Ukrainians, Poles and other Europeans — are once again under threat from Russia,” he explained.

Sybiha added that internal disputes between the two countries could lead them “to the edge of the abyss,” urging both sides to lower tensions and leave historical disputes to historians while focusing on shared security challenges.

“The name of the unit was the choice of our soldiers. Our defenders deserve unconditional respect. It is they who today, at the cost of their health and often their lives, are holding the front line and protecting all of Europe from the Russian threat… I know for sure that our soldiers had no anti-Polish intentions whatsoever,” Sybiha stressed.

He further stated that the intention was to honour those who fought in the past against “imperial Moscow” and Soviet repression, noting that both Ukraine and Poland had fought for independence through difficult historical struggles.

Tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv escalated after Zelenskyy’s decision on May 26 to name the Special Operations Forces unit “North” after “heroes of the UPA,” a move that sparked criticism in Poland.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov