Why didn’t Zelensky mention Volhynia in Warsaw
During an official visit to Poland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska met with President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. They participated in the Polish-Ukrainian Economic Forum and delivered a speech in the evening at the Royal Castle courtyard in Warsaw.
Polish officials explained that while the topic of difficult history was not the centerpiece of the speech, it was discussed in conversations between the presidents. The head of the Bureau of International Policy noted that the two leaders touched on sensitive historical matters in private and in the broader bilateral dialogue.
According to this official, the public statements from both leaders carry signals about the issue and its importance within the wider relationship between Poland and Ukraine.
Will there not be a ban on searching for excavations?
Additionally, Zelensky is quoted as saying during the Warsaw address that every person who died in the past deserves to be found and buried, and that no ban should hinder such efforts. This stance contrasts with earlier restrictions on searches and exhumations of Polish victims linked to Volhynia, prompting interpretations that a new openness is taking shape.
The official noted that the public message from President Zelensky is viewed as a clear statement about future permission for searches and exhumations. The hope is that families of victims will be allowed to bury their relatives and that the process will move forward in a manner consistent with shared remembrance.
Asked about whether Poland has direct authorization for Polish search teams to operate in Ukraine after the war, the official reaffirmed that this remains a persistent objective of Polish diplomacy. The goal is to enable searches and exhumations in practice because these actions matter to the families and to the broader historical understanding of the events.
The presidential minister stressed that this objective has long been on the agenda of Polish-Ukrainian relations and that Zelensky’s statement reinforces the commitment to work toward truth and remembrance. These efforts are described as important not only for the families involved but for the public memory shared by both nations.
80th anniversary of the Volyn massacre
The official highlighted the significance of the 80th anniversary of the Volyn massacre and the importance of reflection and informed discussion on the Ukrainian side to anchor relations in historical truth. Commemoration is framed as a moment to acknowledge suffering and to pursue a sober, factual examination of past crimes.
July 11 marks the National Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists against Polish citizens in the Second Republic. The date recalls the events of July 11 and 12, 1943, when violence targeted Polish communities in several towns. Attacks occurred as people gathered in churches, and churches in Volhynia suffered damage or destruction. Historic estimates place the death toll in the thousands on that day alone, with women, children, and the elderly among the victims. The broader period is tied to waves of violence and forced population movements that left deep scars in Polish territory and memory.
The groups involved in the Volhynian crimes were the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, supported by individuals who took part in the violence against Polish neighbors. The actions were labeled as anti-Polish measures at the time. The period is associated with leaders who played central roles, including commanders who oversaw the operations and are linked to the broader narrative of ethnic cleansing.
In this context, leaders emphasized that ongoing research and dialogue should be anchored in historical truth and mutual understanding. The calls to revisit these events aim to support reconciliation and clear, factual remembrance.
Additional context from this coverage notes that political leaders in both countries view Volhynia as a sensitive chapter of joint history and part of a broader effort to build trust through transparent remembrance. The conversation about Volhynia is presented as part of a larger dialogue on the past and a path forward for Polish-Ukrainian relations. [Citation: wPolityce]
Source: wPolityce