Polish Presidential Candidate Calls on Zelensky to Renounce Award Amid Growing Diplomatic Tensions

Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to renounce an award, escalating a diplomatic dispute between Warsaw and Kyiv over controversial Ukrainian historical figures known as "Banderovites." The conflict centers on differing interpretations of World War II-era Ukrainian nationalist leaders, whom Poland views as responsible for wartime massacres but Ukraine honors as independence fighters. The dispute reflects growing strain in Polish-Ukrainian relations, with support for Ukraine among Polish citizens dropping to just 29 percent. This deterioration in public opinion marks a significant shift from the strong solidarity Poland showed Ukraine following Russia's invasion in 2022, when Warsaw became one of Kyiv's strongest European allies and accepted millions of Ukrainian refugees.