00:01The public role between Polish President Karol Navrotsky and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
00:07undermines political unity and plays into Russia's hands, the European Commission has warned as tensions escalate.
00:15If there's something we have learned over the past five years facing this unprovoked war in Ukraine
00:27is that unity is our strongest tool, and anything that undermines that unity, including disputes in this case between a
00:39member state and Ukraine, is not helpful.
00:44Tensions have risen since late May, when Zelensky signed a decree naming a military unit after the Ukrainian insurgent army,
00:53a formation founded during World War II. The UPA is admired in Ukraine for its resistance against the Soviet Union.
01:01But in Poland, the UPA is held responsible for killing tens of thousands of Poles, an event that Warsaw considers
01:10genocide.
01:11In response, Poland's Nationalist President announced on Friday that he was stripping Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle,
01:19Poland's highest honor.
01:21The spat comes just a few days before Poland is due to host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk.
01:27Zelensky, who was expected to attend, will skip the ceremony. Ukrainian Prime Minister will lead the delegation.
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