Tusk additionally acknowledged the historic “ups and downs” which have occurred in relations between Kyiv and Warsaw. Responding to a query from a reporter about lingering unhealthy blood from the World Struggle II Volhynia bloodbath, during which a Ukrainian guerrilla group killed tens of 1000’s of Poles inside an ethnic cleaning mission, Tusk mentioned it will be a “horrible mistake, an unforgivable sin” to let “unhealthy historical past and unhealthy feelings” intervene with Polish-Ukrainian solidarity.
Tensions have continued to simmer between the 2 nations regardless of their anti-Russia alliance, with Tusk himself in August threatening that Poland would block Ukraine’s accession to the European Union — whose presidency Poland assumes within the new yr — until Ukraine meets the requisite “cultural and political requirements.”
However the Polish chief has since modified his tune, confirming on Tuesday Warsaw’s dedication to accelerating Ukraine’s EU accession talks and saying Kyiv can depend on Poland to help its NATO membership too.
For his half, Zelenskyy instructed reporters he was “happy with the cooperation” between the ministries of tradition of the 2 international locations, and said that “progress” is being made towards addressing historic tensions.
“We admire every little thing that Poland has completed for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
