The resolution called for a “constructive discussion” on how to advance Ukraine’s European integration and stressed that the bloc should work on advancing the future security of Ukraine and Europe as a whole. The resolution, passed by 460 votes in favor with 136 against and 59 abstentions, lauded Kyiv for its efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, highlighting progress on judicial reform and the fight against corruption. But the parliament also recognized Polish concerns over divergent interpretations of the two countries’ shared history. The resolution adopted by parliament made mention of strained diplomatic relations that have driven a wedge between the neighbors and was preceded by a debate on Tuesday that was heavily overshadowed by Poland and Ukraine’s divisive past. ‘You can’t bypass EU principles’ Speaking later on Wednesday, Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the European Parliament’s resolution showed that Ukraine’s path to the EU cannot bypass the values on which the bloc is built. “It is not possible to enter the European Union while bypassing the principles on which the Union is built,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. He said those principles included historical truth, respect for partners and building good neighborly relations. Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said he hoped the vote would show Kyiv that Poland has influence inside the EU as a member state. He said the parliament expects respect for European values, including “respect for historical truth and the memory of the victims of extremism,” as one of the conditions for joining the European family. Volhynia Massacre The bone of contention creating a rift between Warsaw and Kyiv is the Volhynia Massacre of around 100,000 ethnic Poles by Ukrainian nationalist forces during World War II. The killings have underpinned a long-term dispute between the two countries with Poles considering the massacre an act of genocide and Ukrainians viewing the perpetrators—the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and Organization of Ukrainian Nationalist (OUN)—heroic freedom fighters against Soviet and foreign domination. The matter came to a head in May when Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, designated an elite military unit the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA.” Zelenskyy’s decision led to a tit-for-tat diplomatic spat that saw the Ukrainian head of state stripped of Poland’s highest honor, bestowed on him in 2023 by then-President Andrzej Duda. Many other leading political figures on both sides subsequently returned state honors in a spiraling disagreement over history, legacy and national identity. The stakes were raised at the end of June when several amendments were introduced to the resolution accepting a report on Ukraine’s progress on EU accession. Some of the more hardline amendments, submitted by Poland’s conservative-nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) opposition party, explicitly tied Volhynia to Ukraine’s accession process. Reconciliation efforts In an attempt to moderate the tone of the debate, Polish MEP Andrzej Halicki of the Civic Coalition party, which leads the Polish government, proposed a milder amendment. It described Zelenskyy’s military unit-naming move as "unnecessary and unprovoked" and expressed regret over its “disregard for Polish sensitivities related to the Volhynia Massacre." This version, which was ultimately adopted in Wednesday’s vote, also highlighted Poland’s ongoing support for Ukraine in its war with Russia and called on Kyiv to “de-escalate and resume reconciliation efforts in good faith.” In a statement, the European Parliament said that "MEPs regret the disregard for Polish sensitivities and grief and consider that this decision undermines neighbourly relations, calling for de-escalation and renewed efforts in good faith towards reconciliation." Halicki's amendment was criticized by PiS, which accused the MEP of downplaying the seriousness of the issue. However, despite party-political friction, Polish MEPs voiced relative unanimity during Tuesday’s debate.
