Zelenskyy Announced Five Steps to Strengthen Relations with Poland
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced five decisions intended to help strengthen relations between Ukraine and Poland. These include opening the archives related to the Volhynia tragedy, expanding exhumation efforts, taking new diplomatic steps, and strengthening the work of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance.
According to the head of state, today’s security challenges require even closer cooperation between Ukraine and Poland, and complex chapters of history must be addressed through open dialogue and mutual respect.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new measures that Ukraine plans to implement to develop its partnership with Poland. He made this statement following a meeting dedicated to Ukraine’s policy toward Poland.
According to the head of state, today the two countries share not only common interests but also common challenges. That is why it is important to simultaneously develop a strategic partnership and work on issues that have remained complex for both sides for years. “Everyone in Europe needs good-neighborly, equal, and mutually beneficial relations built on respect,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
What Decisions Did Ukraine Make?
The president announced that five main areas of focus were identified following the meeting. The first concerns diplomatic decisions. Details have not yet been disclosed; however, according to Zelenskyy, they are intended to promote the further development of the Ukrainian-Polish partnership.
The second step will be the opening of the archives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service pertaining to the tragic events of the 20th century in Volhynia. This is expected to help historians obtain more documents for researching those events. The third decision concerns exhumation efforts. Ukraine plans to issue more permits for searches of burial sites and, together with the Polish side, create conditions to ensure that such work proceeds more quickly and efficiently.
The fourth area is the expansion of intercultural dialogue between Ukrainians and Poles. This involves new formats of cooperation that will help foster a better understanding of shared history and contemporary challenges. The fifth decision will be to strengthen the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. The President has instructed the institute’s director, Oleksandr Alferov, to prepare proposals for the institute’s development.
More Opportunities for the Institute of National Remembrance
According to Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance should receive more resources for its work. Once the proposals are prepared, the government and the relevant parliamentary committee will consider the possibility of increasing funding and other support for the institution.
The President emphasized that this is necessary not only for historical research but also for the dignified representation of Ukraine’s position on the international stage. “Oleksandr will prepare and present comprehensive proposals, and the relevant government officials and the relevant Verkhovna Rada committee will consider the possibility of increasing financial and other support for the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance,” the head of state said.
Zelenskyy thanked Poland
The President specifically thanked Poland for its support of Ukraine following the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. According to him, Ukrainians deeply appreciate the assistance provided by the Polish people, and the security of the two countries is inextricably linked today. “Poland has provided significant support to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, and we are grateful,” Zelenskyy noted.
He also emphasized that defending Ukraine’s independence simultaneously strengthens the security of Poland and all of Europe. “The security challenges facing Europe today can only be addressed through cooperation, particularly among the free nations of our region,” the president stated.
History and Partnership Must Move Forward Together
Officials in Kyiv emphasize that issues of shared history should not become an obstacle to the development of relations between the two countries. That is why Ukraine proposes to address these issues openly—with the involvement of historians, archival documents, and joint research efforts.
The government hopes that these new initiatives will not only advance our understanding of the complex chapters of the past but also strengthen the Ukrainian-Polish partnership. Against the backdrop of Russian aggression, Kyiv considers strategic cooperation with Poland to be one of the key priorities of its foreign policy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this on Telegram.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will open the archives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service pertaining to the tragic events in Volhynia in the 20th century.
