Ukrainian officials criticize Polish president’s decision to strip Zelenskyy of honor

A decision by Polish President Karol Nawrocki to strip Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Poland’s highest state honor was beneficial to Moscow, Ukrainian officials said.

WARSAW, Poland — A decision by Polish President Karol Nawrocki to strip Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Poland’s highest state honor was beneficial to Moscow, which has an interest in seeing Kyiv in conflict with its allies, Ukrainian officials said.

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Nawrocki announced on Friday that he will strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle over the Ukrainian leader’s decision to name a military unit after a Ukrainian paramilitary organization accused of massacring Poles during World War II.

Former Polish President Andrzej Duda bestowed the award on Zelenskyy in 2023 for services to security, resilience and the defense of human rights.