Poroshenko Renounces Order of the White Eagle Amid Political Tensions
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced his decision to renounce the Order of the White Eagle following recent controversies involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Poroshenko’s statement comes after the Polish official, Jarosław Nawrocki, stripped Zelensky of the order, which had also been declined by former Ukrainian presidents Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko.
Poroshenko criticized Nawrocki’s decision as unjust towards the Ukrainian people, asserting that both he and Zelensky were honored not merely as heads of state but as symbols of the Ukrainian military and its defense of Ukraine, Poland, and Europe.
He stated, “I decided to renounce the Order of the White Eagle. Two weeks ago, I promised my colleagues at a coordinating council that I would take this step if we could not persuade President Nawrocki to reconsider his erroneous decision. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful.”
Expressing solidarity with Polish leaders, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Poroshenko stressed the need to avoid escalating the Ukrainian-Polish dispute, warning that only Moscow could benefit from such historical conflicts.
Poroshenko clarified that his renunciation was not aimed against the Polish people, thanking Poland for its support during the ongoing war. He urged an urgent resolution to the current crisis between Kyiv and Warsaw, emphasizing that security concerns and strategic partnerships should take precedence over historical disputes.
He also indicated that any crisis between Kyiv and Warsaw is not just a diplomatic issue but a security matter, calling for immediate solutions to prevent the conflict from worsening. “I always recall the words of Saint John Paul II: ‘We forgive and ask for forgiveness.’ This formula has historically helped our nations find a path to reconciliation and partnership,” he remarked.
Former Ukrainian President Poroshenko Renounces Order of the White Eagle
