Latest news with #AndrzejDuda
Russia Today
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky claimed he ‘never heard of' Ukrainian Nazi collaborators' crimes
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky claimed he had no idea about the atrocities committed by Ukrainian Nazi collaborators during World War II until confronted about the issue by Polish President Andrzej Duda, the latter has told the media outlet RMF24. According to the president, Zelensky's claim underscores that Ukrainians are kept in the dark about their nation's troubled past. 'He said to me: 'Andrzej, I've never heard of the murders, the killing of Poles in western Ukraine, in Volhynia. They didn't teach us about it in school',' Duda said, recounting one of his meetings with the Ukrainian leader. The president was referring to the infamous Volyn massacre, which has long been a flashpoint in bilateral relations between the two countries. Militants from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) slaughtered up to 100,000 Poles between 1943 and 1945 in the regions of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, which were later incorporated into Ukraine. Both the UPA and the OUN collaborated with Nazi Germany during WWII. Many historic ultranationalist leaders, including OUN leader Stepan Bandera, a notorious Nazi collaborator, are widely revered by Ukrainians today. According to Duda, they are ignorant about the crimes of the past. The widespread belief that they are aware of their own 'difficult history' is wrong, according to the Polish president. It is not the first time Duda has expressed his concerns about Ukraine's approach to its past. In September 2024, he told Polsat News that 'Ukrainians have many problems with their history,' including 'the Volyn massacre … service in SS units, collaboration with the authorities of the Third Reich, and participation in the Holocaust.' The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Thursday, saying that historical events should be studied and discussed 'without politicization.' 'On the eve of the day when the Republic of Poland commemorates the victims of the Volyn tragedy, Ukraine shares the pain and grief of the Polish people. At the same time, we do not forget about the numerous Ukrainians who became innocent victims of interethnic violence, political repression and deportation on the territory of Poland,' the statement continued. Warsaw has been one of Kiev's strongest supporters since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. Poland also provided a key logistics hub which was used to transport between 80-90% of NATO-supplied military equipment and ammunition to Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities continue to glorify Nazi collaborators despite concerns expressed by Kiev's Western backers. In February, the city of Rovno celebrated the 120th birthday of Nazi collaborator and prominent anti-Semitic propagandist Ulas Samchuk, who called for the mass killing of Jews and Poles during WWII. Less than a month later, Ukrainian nationalists commemorated the 75th anniversary of the death of UPA leader Roman Shukhevich with a torchlit march, and unveiled a museum dedicated to him. Shukhevich is considered by many historians to have been one of the architects and commanders responsible for the massacre of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia.
Russia Today
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky claimed he ‘never heard of' Ukrainian Nazi WWII crimes
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky claimed he had no idea about the atrocities committed by the Ukrainian Nazi collaborators during the World War II until confronted on the issue by Poland's president, Andrzej Duda, the latter has told the Polish RMF24 broadcaster. According to the president, Zelensky's claim shows that Ukrainians are kept in the dark about their nation's dark past. 'He said to me: 'Andrzej, I've never heard of the murders, the killing of Poles in western Ukraine, in Volhynia. They didn't teach us about it in school',' Duda said, recounting one of his meetings with the Ukrainian leader. The president was referring to the infamous Volyn massacre, which has long been a flashpoint in Ukrainian-Polish relations. Militants with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) slaughtered up to 100,000 Poles between 1943 and 1945 in the regions of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, which currently belong to Ukraine. Both the UPA and the OUN were collaborating with the Nazis during the WWII. Many of the Ukrainian ultranationalist leaders, including the OUN head, Stepan Bandera, a notorious Nazi collaborator, are widely revered in modern Ukraine. According to Duda, Ukrainians are ignorant about the crimes of the past. A belief that the knowledge of Ukraine's 'difficult history' is common among them is 'wrong,' according to the Polish president. It is not the first time Duda has expressed his concerns about Ukraine's approach to its own past. In September 2024, he told Polsat News that 'Ukrainians have many problems with their history,' including 'the Volyn massacre … service in SS units, collaboration with the authorities of the Third Reich, and participation in the Holocaust.' Warsaw has been one of Kiev's strongest supporters since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. Poland also provided a key logistics hub used to transport between 80-90% of NATO-supplied military equipment and ammunition to Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities continue to glorify Nazi collaborators despite concerns expressed by its Western backers. In February, a Ukrainian city of Rivne celebrated the 120th birthday of Nazi collaborator and prominent anti-Semitic propagandist Ulas Samchuk, who called for mass killings of Jews and Poles during the WWII. Less than a month later, Ukrainian nationalists commemorated the 75th anniversary of the death of the UPA leader, Roman Shukhevich, with a torchlit march as well as unveiled a museum dedicated to him.
Russia Today
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Poland threatens to close key Ukraine military aid hub
Polish President Andrzej Duda has threatened to shut down the country's main transit hub for Western military aid to Ukraine, accusing Kiev and NATO of treating Polish infrastructure as if it were their own. Warsaw has been one of Kiev's strongest supporters since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. The airport in Rzeszow, located just 80km from the Ukrainian border, has served as a vital logistics hub. According to Polish and Western officials, between 80-90% of NATO and partner-supplied military equipment destined for Ukraine has passed through the facility, including weapons, ammunition, and vehicles. However, speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Duda expressed frustration that Poland had not been included in key international bodies responsible for decisions on Ukraine aid delivered via Polish territory. He described the situation as a 'scandal.' 'They [Ukraine and NATO] think that the airport in Rzeszow and our highways belong to them, as if they're theirs. Well, they're not. They're ours,' the president said. Duda insisted that if Ukraine and its Western partners continued to treat the use of Polish territory as a given, Warsaw could shut down the hub 'for maintenance.' 'If someone doesn't like it, we close it and goodbye,' he said. 'Deliver [the aid] by sea, by air, I don't know, drop it by parachute.' He added that the issue was not limited to Ukraine, but reflected a broader imbalance in Poland's relationship with the US-led military bloc. 'We need to have the courage to speak with the Germans and Americans,' he insisted. Russia has consistently denounced foreign military aid to Kiev, arguing it only prolongs the conflict without altering its outcome. Moscow maintains that the shipments also escalate NATO's involvement and obstruct peace efforts. Duda is scheduled to leave office in August and will be succeeded by Karol Nawrocki, a historian and head of the Institute of National Remembrance. Nawrocki has publicly opposed Ukraine's potential accession to both NATO and the EU, arguing that the country is not ready and that full membership would carry unacceptable security risks. He has also condemned Kiev's veneration of wartime nationalist figures linked to atrocities against Poles during World War II. Following his inauguration, Nawrocki is expected to meet with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, but his administration is expected to adopt a more confrontational stance on bilateral relations and EU integration.
Herald Malaysia
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Leo XIV receives President of the Republic of Poland
Pope Leo XVI receives in private audience President Andrzej Duda, of Poland. One topic to which particular attention was given is the ongoing war in Ukraine. Jul 03, 2025 Pope Leo XIV greets President Andrzej Duda of Poland (@Vatican Media) VATICAN: Pope Leo XIV on July 3, Thursday morning received in audience, at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, the outgoing President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. Duda's presidency officially ends in August 2025. First elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2020, Polish law prohibits serving more than two consecutive presidential terms. The president-elect, Karol Nawrocki, who won the recent election, is scheduled to take the oath of office on August 6. According to a statement by the Holy See Press Office, President Duda subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, who was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations. 'During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State, both parties expressed their mutual appreciation for the strong bilateral relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Poland. The conversation also offered an opportunity to exchange views on the country's current socio-political situation,' the statement said. The statement added that 'The meeting continued with a focus on international matters, with particular attention given to the ongoing war in Ukraine.'--Vatican News
The National
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Best photos of July 3: China's first domestically built aircraft carrier to bare-knuckle boxing in Turkey
Poland's President Andrzej Duda arrives at the St Damasus courtyard on his way to a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV, at The Vatican. AP
