Former Ukrainian foreign minister reminds Poland of controversial recipients of the Order of the White Eagle
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that fascist leader Benito Mussolini and Russian Empress Catherine II were still recipients of the Order of the White Eagle, which Polish President Karol Nawrocki had decided to strip from Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Source: Kuleba on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Kuleba described Karol Nawrocki's decision as scandalous and recalled controversial historical figures who still held the order.
"Catherine II was a Russian empress. Benito Mussolini was a fascist leader of Italy and an ally of Adolf Hitler. What unites these two people, who are separated by more than 150 years? Catherine II destroyed the Polish state during the partitions, finally in 1795. Mussolini supported Hitler when he destroyed the Polish state in 1939. Both still remain recipients of Poland's highest award – the Order of the White Eagle," Kuleba wrote.
He added that Polish President Karol Nawrocki had decided that it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who should be stripped of the order.
"You're targeting the wrong people, Nawrocki. Ratings and hatred towards Ukrainians are blinding the eyes that should see the real threat to Poland. But Ukraine is fighting it, not President Nawrocki. Ukrainians, let us remain calm. Everything has its time," he added.
Background:
- On 19 June, Nawrocki decided to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle over the decision to grant one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' units the honorary designation "named after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army".
- In connection with this decision, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that he would return his high state award to Poland.
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