Tusk: Zelensky will not support Lviv Regional Council initiative on 'UPA year'

Kyiv's position on Lviv's initiative

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told journalists at a press conference in India about his interaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the issue of declaring 2027 the "UPA year". According to the Polish leader, he received a clear signal from the Ukrainian head of state: if the further course of the procedure depends on him, Zelensky will not support further steps by the Lviv Regional Council.

«Я отримав сигнал від президента Зеленського, що, якщо від нього залежатиме подальша процедура, то він жодним чином цього не підтримуватиме. Він був дуже невдоволений тим, що сталося» (I received a signal from President Zelensky that, if the further procedure depends on him, he will in no way support it. He was very dissatisfied with what happened), Tusk emphasised.

Efforts to resolve the conflict

The Polish Prime Minister noted that he had made significant efforts to resolve the "order crisis". His aim was to explain why such decisions harm Ukraine's interests and require deep reflection, taking into account the dramatic shared history of the two nations.

Tusk added that he had devoted many hours to explaining the Polish point of view on this issue to Zelensky. In his words, he got the impression that the Ukrainian president understood Warsaw's arguments.

Historical memory and European integration

At the same time, Donald Tusk acknowledged the complexity and ambiguity of the history of both countries. However, he emphasised that Ukrainians "cannot seek any justifications" regarding the Volhynia tragedy and Shukhevych.

«Я розумію всі складнощі і хотів би, щоб поляки також розуміли, що, звісно, усе це дуже неоднозначно — і в нашій історії, і в їхній — але геноциду жодним чином не можна виправдовувати. Україна просто матиме дуже серйозні труднощі щодо євроінтеграції, якщо не шануватиме також нашої чутливості (з цього питання — ред.). Ми наперед нічого надзвичайного не очікуємо» (I understand all the complexities and would like Poles to also understand that, of course, all of this is very ambiguous — both in our history and in theirs — but genocide cannot be justified in any way. Ukraine will simply have very serious difficulties with European integration if it does not also respect our sensitivity (on this issue — ed.). We do not expect anything extraordinary in advance), the Polish Prime Minister emphasised.

Reaction to local deputies' actions

Donald Tusk also commented on the decision of certain deputies of the district and regional councils of Lviv. He noted that it is difficult for him to take responsibility for such actions, calling them similar to a planned provocation by one of the local nationalists.

«Натомість мені важко відповідати за рішення якихось депутатів районних чи обласних рад Львова. Це схоже на сплановану провокацію одного з місцевих націоналістів. Це дуже немудро і непотрібно» (Instead, it is difficult for me to take responsibility for the decisions of certain deputies of the district or regional councils of Lviv. This looks like a planned provocation by one of the local nationalists. This is very unwise and unnecessary), the Polish leader concluded.