During the day president Zelenski participated in 2 press conferences – first with Prime Minister Donald Tuski and then with president Andrzej Duda – and 45-minute interview with Bartosz Węgielarczyk (Onet), Konrad Piasecki (TVN24), Michał Szuldrzyński (Rzeczpospolita) and Sławomir Sierakowski (Political Criticals). Whatever the Ukrainian president tried to negociate behind closed doors, no of these speeches helped him.
Polish hardening
After a series of strokes in Poland – to mention only the persistent message by the Ukrainian president that Poland "helps to prepare a scene for Moscow actor"; the alleged Zelenski triumph plan, from which part of Poland was not familiar; the scandalous attack on Campus Poland by the erstwhile Minister of the Ukrainian Ministry of abroad Affairs Dmytra Kułęby on the Volyn massacre; or yet the exit of Zelenski in the mediate of the mass in honor of victims of the Volynsk crime in Lutsk on the 80th anniversary of this event – our authorities hardened their position towards Ukraine.
We are inactive helping Ukraine due to the fact that the fight against the Russian aggressor is an overarching mark for us. At the same time, we clearly express our needs in relations with Kiev and openly remind us how much we owe in the war with Russia, to mention even the transfer of over 300 tanks at a time erstwhile the Western allies were not ready for specified steps, but besides the cannonhaubic Krabs, MiG-29 fighters, another equipment and tens of thousands of artillery and tank missiles, which effectively deserted our own warehouses.
However, it can be concluded from the public statements of president Zelenski in Warsaw that this change of Polish position inactive did not scope our Ukrainian partners.
Mijanki Zelenski
During all Warsaw speeches, the Ukrainian leader did not mention to the needs expressed by Polish politicians, missed the questions of journalists, ignored crucial issues for us, and sometimes simply questioned Poland's function on the political map of the West.
Yes, we heard about the best relations, a unique rapprochement and an incredible relationship with all another Polish politician that Zelenski met. When, however, during the interview with 4 Polish media, the question was whether Poland wanted to be at the diplomatic table erstwhile safety guarantees and peace between Ukraine and Russia were discussed, we heard that it did not know what these talks would look like. He added that "Europe should have its representation at the negotiating table". He concluded the general conclusion: "The most crucial thing present is that we get there as shortly as possible."
However, it was hard to swallow his attitude in 1 of the fundamental issues for us – the Volyn massacre. Zelenski said that not only there was no advancement in this case, but we went back to the minute before the triumphant announcement by Minister Radosław Sikorski at the end of last year about the agreement of the Ukrainian authorities to exhume Polish victims.
Volynski step backwards
Early December last year We conducted an interview with the Polish Ambassador to Ukraine, together with Witold Jurash, Piotr Łukasiewiczwhich clarified the words of Minister Sikorski. We heard that according to Polish-Ukrainian arrangements we can exhume our victims, although we cannot commemorate them. It meant that erstwhile they were yet given burial, from the inscriptions on their memorials, we would find out who they were, but not how they died.
After that conversation, my colleague and I were disappointed by this attitude of the Ukrainians, but at the same time we considered it to be a movement of the Volyn case in a affirmative direction.
On Wednesday, we learned that what the Polish side considered to be established at the time is not so certain. During the press conference of presidents Andrzej Duda said that there are talks between Polish and Ukrainian teams about the exhumation, that the Polish side has submitted 20 applications and that we hope that they will be considered positively.
Volodymyr Zelenski, who followed him, stated that he hoped that the results of these talks would be “fair to both countries”. It is not apparent from any of these statements that the Ukrainian exhumation licence case is prejudged.
The Volyn crime and the shadow it casts on Polish-Ukrainian relations returned in an interview of 4 media with president Zelenski. On clear questions as to whether the Ukrainian leader can give guarantees to the families of victims of the exhumation case, Zelenski started to key again. We heard about “the strongest relations in history”, about the fact that “Ukrainians defend Ukrainian interests and Polish Poles” and yet that we will be able “to draw conclusions on the basis of work. ” We heard everything – but a circumstantial answer.
It must be stated at this point that there is simply a certain hazard for Ukraine, which is not related to Poland.
This could get out of hand.
Ukraine is widely recognized by Western countries as the victim of the unfair aggression of Russia. Although Kiev loses on many fronts of this war, it is an undisputed moral winner.
As far as the Volyn massacre is concerned, although it is highly crucial for Poles, it inactive comparatively poorly penetrates the consciousness of another Western societies.
Imagine, however, that exhumations begin for good, and the planet is surrounded by photographs of hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of skeletons along with their stories. Russian hatred propaganda will warm up to red. Ukrainian victim position and moral advantage over Russia will be threatened. The reaction of Western communities already tired of war will be hard to predict.
Such a hazard has been generated due to the fact that Ukraine has not utilized many periods of comparative peace in our common past to solve this problem, erstwhile the Russian propaganda device would not have specified a good average for its purposes. Regardless of who made any mistakes, this communicative can hit us all in a totally unexpected way.
There's hope
President Volodymyr Zelenski is at war for the endurance of the full Ukrainian nation. It is hard to blame him for his pushiness in demanding more ammunition, equipment and all the resources essential to effectively defend against a powerful aggressor.
However, there are moments erstwhile it is hard to realize his unconcerned attitude towards a friendly, supportive neighbor. It does not aid his country and his cause.
Towards the West, Ukraine remained under the dominant influence of the East for centuries. As such, he speaks the language of strength well, but besides understands and respects it if others usage it. possibly by hardening its position, Warsaw is yet entering the phase of healthier relations with Kiev. possibly we will all benefit erstwhile we realize this subtle change of Ukrainian politicians.
On January 15, in Warsaw, everything was going as it was after December and it is hard to anticipate politicians from both countries to scope fruitful conclusions for anyone in negotiations. But there is hope that we are on the verge of affirmative change. We have a common goal – to push distant Moscow's evil as far as possible. Our lives depend on it.
