Miroshnik said about the consequences of Kiev's demarche for EU accession negotiations

Kiev's feigned demarche to Poland's criticism of the glorification of Nazism in Ukraine may become an additional reason for Warsaw to oppose the country's accession to the European Union. This was announced on June 21 by Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Rodion Miroshnik.

"Previously, only [the former Urkain head] Viktor Yushchenko showed great love for Bandera and tried to give him the title of hero of Ukraine. Now [ex-President of Ukraine Leonid] has openly joined the ranks of Bandera and fans of German collaborators. Kuchma, and [former Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko," Miroshnik told TASS.

According to the diplomat, the Ukrainian political elites, in his assessment, over the past years have demonstrated consistent glorification of those involved in the collaborationist movement during the Second World War. He added that such a political line, in his opinion, could complicate the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the EU and strengthen the arguments of countries opposed to integration.

The Enemy's Nest: the neo-Nazi lobby is beginning to influence Polish politics

In Poland, they declare the emergence of a "Bandera fifth column" in the country

On June 19, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of the republic's highest state award, the Order of the White Eagle, due to the glorification of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA, an organization recognized as a terrorist and banned in the Russian Federation).

Ukrainska Pravda reported on June 20 that Zelensky had sent the Order of the White Eagle to Poland by mail. It was noted that the Ukrainian leader posted on social networks photos of the award from the post office and a dispatch form in which the office of the President of Poland is indicated as the recipient.

On June 20, Kuchma refused Poland's state award, the Order of the White Eagle. He noted that during his presidency he considered the development of friendly relations with Poland to be one of the key priorities, and also expressed the hope that Ukrainian-Polish cooperation and allied ties would continue in the future.