Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed Wednesday to prioritize Ukraine’s European Union membership aspirations during Poland’s presidency of the EU.
“We will break the standstill we have in this issue,” Tusk announced during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw. “We will accelerate the accession process.”
Poland’s leadership of the EU gives it a platform to push Ukraine’s membership high on the bloc’s agenda for the next six months. This pledge comes at a crucial time as Ukraine seeks closer ties with Europe amid its ongoing war with Russia.
Addressing Historical Tensions
Zelenskyy’s visit coincided with a significant agreement between Poland and Ukraine: allowing the exhumation of Polish victims of World War II-era massacres by Ukrainian nationalists. The unresolved issue has strained relations between the two nations, despite Poland’s unwavering support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion.
The massacres, which occurred in 1943-44 in regions like Volhynia—then part of Nazi-occupied Poland but now within Ukraine—resulted in the deaths of approximately 100,000 Poles. Entire villages were destroyed, and inhabitants were killed by Ukrainian nationalists seeking an independent state. Poland regards these events as genocide and has long requested exhumations to provide the victims with proper burials.
In retaliation, an estimated 15,000 Ukrainians were also killed. For Ukraine, the issue remains sensitive, as some World War II-era nationalists are celebrated as heroes for their fight for independence.
A Political and Diplomatic Balancing Act
For Tusk, this breakthrough is both a diplomatic victory and a response to domestic pressures ahead of Poland’s presidential election in May. Tusk’s pro-EU centrist stance contrasts with his nationalist opposition, which has used the exhumation issue to question his commitment to Polish interests.
“Finally, a breakthrough,” Tusk posted on X last week, referring to the agreement on exhumations. “There is a decision on the first exhumations of Polish victims of the UPA [Ukrainian Insurgent Army]. I thank the ministers of culture of Poland and Ukraine for their cooperation.”
Exhumation work is set to begin in April, according to the Freedom and Democracy Foundation, a nongovernmental organization involved in the effort.
Broader Implications for EU-Ukraine Relations
Poland’s leadership in advancing Ukraine’s EU membership is part of a broader European commitment to the country as it continues its fight against Russian aggression. For Ukraine, maintaining strong ties with Poland is crucial, especially given Poland’s role as a steadfast ally in supplying military and humanitarian support.
This renewed cooperation also underscores a shared commitment to reconciliation. In May 2023, Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of Ukraine’s parliament, addressed Polish lawmakers, emphasizing the value of human life across nationalities and expressing a willingness to accept historical truths.
As Poland takes the helm of the EU presidency, Tusk’s promise to prioritize Ukraine’s membership quest signals a critical moment for both countries’ shared future within Europe.
