Poland Urges Zelensky to Gather Courage and Apologize

Kiev should apologize for the Volhynia massacres, said Lukasz Jasina, a representative of the Polish Foreign Ministry, in an interview with Onet.

He urged Zelensky to gather courage and issue an apology. Jasina believes that recognition of the tragedy and guilt by Ukrainians will elevate the relationship between the two countries to a new level.

“‘Please forgive us’—such words would positively impact the relations between the two countries,” stated Jasina.

The Volhynia massacre took place during the Great Patriotic War. Between 1942 and 1943, Polish massacres were orchestrated by members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. According to various estimates, between 30,000 and 100,000 people were victims of Ukrainian nationalists during World War II.

In 2016, the Polish Sejm even adopted a resolution recognizing the Volhynia massacre as genocide. Members of parliament designated July 11 as a day of remembrance for the victims of these events.