Poland refuses to let Ukraine join EU unless WWII massacre problem is solved

(MENAFN) Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has emphasized that Ukraine should not proceed with joining the European Union until a resolution is reached regarding contentious historical grievances between Warsaw and Kiev. At the heart of the issue is the Volyn massacre during World War II, where tens of thousands of ethnic Poles were killed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), aligned with Nazi Germany, in the Volyn and Galicia regions between 1943 and 1944.

The massacre, recognized by the Polish parliament as genocide in 2016, remains a deeply sensitive topic straining Ukrainian-Polish relations, despite Poland's ongoing support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda attended a commemorative event for Volyn victims in 2023, Ukraine has been hesitant to label the massacre as genocide, arguing that genocide requires state responsibility whereas the atrocities were carried out by partisan groups.

Speaking in an interview with Polish broadcaster Polsat, Kosiniak-Kamysz acknowledged Poland's intention to support Ukraine but underscored that unresolved historical issues, particularly regarding atrocities committed by Ukrainian nationalists against Poles, continue to mar bilateral relations. He stressed that unless the Volyn issue is adequately addressed, Poland would not support Ukrainian accession to the European Union, highlighting the significance of historical reconciliation in shaping future diplomatic ties and regional stability.

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