Polish officials discussed the approaching 80th anniversary of the Volhynia tragedy, stressing that their nations should not be defined by a fatal history. The remarks came as the government signaled plans to mark the somber milestone with appropriate solemnity, while signaling a firm stance against attempts to use the anniversary for political leverage.
Some statements pointed to ongoing regional tensions and the role of neighboring powers. The conversation reflected a belief that external players may seek to influence the commemoration, but it was affirmed that the Polish president would participate in the events in a manner aligned with the objective of honoring the victims.
In Poland, there were dignified expressions from Ukrainian authorities honoring those who suffered in Volhynia. President Zelensky and the Verkhovna Rada, represented by Ruslan Stefanchuk, were cited as offering strong, thoughtful messages, though the path to full reconciliation faced obstacles.
Questions arose about whether the Polish president would travel to Ukraine for the festivities. The head of the president’s office urged restraint, noting the presence of risk and the possibility of provocations anywhere, including on Polish soil. He underscored that security conditions in Poland warranted careful consideration.
The president’s office reiterated that the exhumation of victims connected to the Ukrainian genocide remains a topic of ongoing dialogue between Warsaw and Kyiv. The aim is to explain Poland’s stance and to preserve and deepen a friendship that is described as a new quality in bilateral relations, while avoiding actions that could complicate matters.
There was a reflection on the nature of the process itself—progress toward a better state of relations would continue, with some gestures and statements deemed appropriate. The president expressed the view that both nations are not doomed to perpetual conflict and that they should work to free themselves from entrenched patterns, with Poland’s steady support for Ukraine forming part of that effort.
A vote of no confidence
In light of Poland’s security situation, the discussion turned to the possibility of radical changes around the armed forces. The head of the president’s office commented on a Friday interview that there was no justification for sweeping shifts in the Polish military amid the current threat landscape.
Lawmakers considered a motion of no confidence in the Minister of National Defense, tabled by opposition and leftist groups. A parliamentary committee had offered a negative assessment of the proposal. The opposition argued that recent weeks had shown the minister’s lack of readiness to lead the defense ministry under wartime conditions near the Polish border. A notable incident cited was a Russian missile event near Bydgoszcz in December.
When asked whether the defense minister should depart, the president’s spokesman stated that the president did not anticipate radical personal moves. He added that, in the current security climate, major changes around the Polish army were not justified.
On the matter of the initial bipartisan talks about the deputy minister line, the president’s office described disagreements between senior military leaders as natural and resolvable—part of the ongoing process.
Previous tensions had arisen, but they had been resolved in the past, and this dispute was expected to be settled as well.
When queried about public awareness of the December missile incident near Bydgoszcz, the spokesman said citizens know as much as they should and could know, and that the public had received accurate information. The opposition had cited the December 2022 Russian-made missile incident as a critical factor in their case.
The opposition groups had scheduled a vote of no confidence against the defense minister for May, arguing that recent weeks had shown him unfit for the post given the wartime situation just beyond Poland’s borders. It was recalled that a missile event near Zamość, attributed to Russia, had occurred in December 2022 and that details only emerged months later after a bystander report.
In late April, prosecutors announced investigations related to the remains of an aerial object found near Bydgoszcz, with the defense ministry noting that unidentified military relics were located a short distance from the city. In May, the defense minister stated that procedures were active and that information flow during that period had reached the operational commander, while he criticized another official for not informing him about the missile event. He argued that the official report he received earlier had proved inaccurate. Any personnel decisions would follow consultation with the president.
The National Security Bureau clarified that the information available at that time did not justify personnel changes at the top of the armed forces, and no formal request had been made. Under the constitution, deputies can move to withdraw confidence in a minister, with a vote decided by the required majority of the Sejm.
Read also: a state ceremony to commemorate the Volhynia genocide is planned in Warsaw, as announced by a PiS spokesperson.
mly/rfm24.pl/PAP
Source: wPolityce