Zelenskyy announced the opening of archives on the Volyn tragedy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv will open the archives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service, pertaining to the tragic events of the 20th century in Volyn. He reported this after a meeting dedicated to the development of relations with Poland.
According to Zelenskyy, five main steps to improve Ukrainian-Polish cooperation were identified following the meeting.
"First: there will be decisions on the diplomatic front. Second: all archives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine concerning the tragic events of the 20th century in Volyn will be opened. Third: there will be decisions to issue an additional significant number of permits for search and exhumation works, and together with the Polish side, we must ensure greater opportunities for conducting such works," he reported.
In addition, the parties intend to expand public dialogue between the two countries. Zelenskyy also proposed strengthening the capabilities of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory and called for consideration of increasing its funding.
Recently, relations between Ukraine and Poland have remained tense. One of the reasons was the decision of the Ukrainian leadership to grant one of its military units the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA," which caused criticism in Poland. Following this, the Polish side made a series of decisions related to the assessment of historical events and the commemoration of the victims of the Volyn tragedy. Among other things, Polish President Karol Nawrocki deprived Zelenskyy of the Polish Order of the White Eagle, after which a demarche occurred by three former presidents of Ukraine and other high-ranking officials who, in solidarity, refused their awards.
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