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 War II Volhynia bloodbath, through which a Ukrainian guerrilla group killed tens of hundreds of Poles inside an ethnic cleaning mission, Tusk mentioned it could 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 — except Ukraine meets the requisite “cultural and political requirements.”
But 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 advised reporters he was “happy with the cooperation” between the ministries of tradition of the 2 international locations, and acknowledged that “progress” is being made towards addressing historic tensions.
“We recognize every part that Poland has finished for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
