The European Parliament mentioned the dispute between Ukraine and Poland over the UPA in a resolution
The European Parliament has expressed its support for Ukraine’s continued progress toward European Union membership. At the same time, in the resolution, MEPs specifically mentioned the historical dispute between Ukraine and Poland over the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and expressed regret over the decision to award one of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Special Operations Forces the honorary name “Heroes of the UPA.”
Despite this, the document reaffirms support for Ukraine’s European integration and positively assesses the reforms the country is implementing even amid a full-scale war.
In the document, MEPs emphasized that the decision to rename the Independent Special Operations Center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Special Operations Forces, in their view, offended the Polish side and negatively impacted good-neighborly relations between the two countries. “Members of the European Parliament express regret over the disregard for the feelings and grief of the Polish side and believe that this decision undermines good-neighborly relations, calling for de-escalation and a renewal of efforts in a spirit of goodwill aimed at reconciliation,” the resolution states.
The amendment to the document was drafted by the European People’s Party. It was included in a broader report on Ukraine’s progress toward EU accession, prepared by German MEP Michael Gahler. At the same time, the overall tone of the resolution remains positive for Ukraine. The European Parliament noted that, despite the full-scale war, the country continues to implement important reforms and move toward meeting the requirements necessary for EU membership.
The document was approved by 460 members of the European Parliament. 136 voted against it, and 59 abstained. However, the resolution is non-binding and has no legal force. After the vote, Michael Gahler stated that Ukraine has changed significantly since 2014 and has taken a major step forward on its path toward Europe. “Since Ukraine embarked on its European path in 2014, the country has changed dramatically for the better. Russia’s war of aggression has even accelerated this process. At the same time, much remains to be done, particularly to meet the requirements of the first fundamental cluster of negotiations. Continuing judicial reform and ensuring the unimpeded operation of anti-corruption institutions remain key conditions for further progress toward EU membership and for meeting citizens’ expectations,” he noted.
As a reminder, in late May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy bestowed the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” upon the Independent Center for Special Operations of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This decision drew criticism from Poland, where the activities of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remain the subject of heated historical debate.
Despite mentioning this issue, the European Parliament reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s European aspirations and emphasized the need to continue reforms that bring the country closer to full membership in the European Union. This is stated in the resolution adopted by the European Parliament. This is stated in a statement by the European Parliament.
U.S. President Donald Trump, following a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit, stated that they had established a good relationship. He also expressed confidence that Ukraine has strong potential and a bright future.
