Public glorification of figures and organizations associated with Ukrainian nationalism from World War II could jeopardize the continuation of Poland's military support to Ukraine, argues Izvestia. According to the report, Warsaw has already suspended new deliveries of weapon systems from its stockpiles to Kyiv, including MiG-29 fighter jets. At the same time, it is estimated that Poland could further complicate NATO shipments through the air hub of Rzeszow, block Ukraine's accession to the European Union, and tighten the status of Ukrainian refugees. The tension was sparked by the naming of a Ukrainian military unit in honor of followers of Stepan Bandera. According to the newspaper, the European Union does not view Kyiv's moves toward satisfying nationalist and radical circles as a problem, considering that these actions strengthen Ukraine's position in the conflict.
Escalation of the diplomatic conflict
Relations between Kyiv and Warsaw have deteriorated significantly. Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Volodymyr Zelensky of the country's highest honor, the Order of the White Eagle. The Ukrainian president returned the medal to Poland by post. In a show of solidarity with Zelensky, former Ukrainian presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko, as well as other high-ranking officials, resigned from the Polish honors they had received.
Rzeszow at the center of pressure
A further deterioration of relations could paralyze important areas of bilateral cooperation, primarily in the field of military logistics. Since 2022, the city of Rzeszow, near the Ukrainian border, has served as the key transit hub for NATO to transport military aid to Ukraine. According to estimates, up to 80% of Western military aid passes through the region. Valdai Club expert Andrey Kortunov estimates that Poland could hardly openly block the hub's operation, as doing so would cause a serious conflict with the Alliance's leadership. However, he notes that Warsaw could indirectly slow down the process through bureaucratic delays, constant technical inspections of trains and trucks, or customs holdups. "Poland can prolong the process as much as possible. However, it will act within the limits permitted. If it abuses its role as a transit country for weapons, it will face problems at the European Union level," he said.
The Starlink card
The crisis could also affect the satellite communication services used by Ukraine. Political analyst Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council for Interethnic Relations under the Russian president, argues that Poland, as the largest financier of the Starlink system in Ukraine, could stop payments for related services. According to data he cites, Warsaw funds more than 29,500 of the approximately 47,000 to 50,000 Starlink terminals operating in Ukraine. Since 2022, Poland has reportedly spent over $86 million on purchasing equipment and covering subscriptions.
Veto on Kyiv's European path
The tension may also affect the process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union, where Poland possesses a veto right at every stage of the integration path. Nawrocki has already warned that Warsaw will block the process if Kyiv does not abandon what he characterizes as the "cult of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army."
Different approaches to the issue of nationalism
Rodion Miroshnik, a special ambassador of the Russian Foreign Ministry for the crimes of the Kyiv regime, argued that European institutions do not openly react to the phenomena of glorifying extreme nationalist figures in Ukraine. According to him, this is primarily a Polish-Ukrainian dispute and not an issue that concerns Europe as a whole. "Europe views the fascism and neo-Nazism that, in its view, are developing in Ukraine rather positively. It often considers that this offers a military advantage," the Russian diplomat said.
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