Ukraine Urges Honest Dialogue with Poland Ahead of Volyn Tragedy Commemoration

Ahead of Poland’s commemoration of the Volyn tragedy, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) called for honest dialogue on shared history and unity against Russian aggression.

This was reported by The Gaze, citing a statement made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The statement acknowledges that the Volyn tragedy represents a shared pain for both nations and calls for an impartial analysis based on a professional examination of all historical facts and circumstances. 

“We stand for an honest, responsible and balanced historical dialogue, free from politicization and unilateral interpretations, and we count on the prudence of our Polish partners in assessing the events of our common historical past,” the statement reads.

The Ministry also emphasized recent progress made in commemorating the Volyn tragedy. It noted that in recent months, the process of exhumations and constructive dialogue on historical issues had resumed.

Ukraine has proposed restoring the work of the Ukrainian-Polish Forum of Historians and the Partnership Forum as platforms for dialogue and mutual understanding.

The statement also refers to the many Ukrainians who became innocent victims of interethnic violence, political repression, and deportations in Poland. 

Furthermore, the Ministry highlighted Russia’s ongoing efforts to divide Ukrainians and Poles. In light of this, the MFA calls for unity between the two nations and for joint efforts to honor historical memory as a foundation for building a shared European future.

“Good-neighborly relations between Ukraine and Poland remain important for both countries, given the common interests and historical proximity of our peoples, as well as the challenges and threats posed to us by the Russian aggressor,” the document stresses.

The Ministry also expressed deep appreciation for Poland’s support since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, viewing it as a genuine manifestation of solidarity between the two nations.

Earlier, The Gaze reported on the adoption of a joint historical declaration concerning the exhumation of Volyn victims. Since then, active work has begun to locate and organize the burial sites.