Brussels Warns: Poland-Ukraine Row Fuels Putin, Threatens European Unity

Euronews' program "Europe Today" offers a concise yet comprehensive look into pressing global and European affairs, covering a range of topics from political leadership changes and shifting public sentiments to escalating diplomatic crises and international sporting events. Anchored by Méabh Mc Mahon and EU editor Maria Tadeo, the 20-minute daily show provides crucial analysis of stories shaping the EU and beyond, available live on TV, Euronews' website, and various digital platforms, as well as in newsletter and podcast formats.

A significant focus of the program includes the deteriorating relations between Poland and Ukraine, a situation Euronews' Sasha Vakulina has been examining. This intensifying public row between Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been identified by the European Commission as undermining political unity and inadvertently playing into Russia's hands. Paula Pinho, the Commission's chief spokesperson, emphasized the critical importance of unity in confronting the unprovoked war in Ukraine, stating that any dispute, particularly between a member state and Ukraine, is unhelpful and only benefits the aggressor.

The tensions have rapidly escalated since late May, originating from Zelenskyy's decree to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). While the UPA is revered in Ukraine for its resistance against the Soviet Union and its pursuit of an independent state, in Poland, it is held responsible for massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, which Warsaw officially recognizes as genocide. This historical memory dispute became a diplomatic crisis, prompting a strong response from Poland.

In retaliation, President Nawrocki announced his intention to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest honor, labeling it a "warning signal." Zelenskyy responded by seemingly returning the medal, posting a photo on social media, and stating that such a symbol requires respect for community values. Other Ukrainian figures followed suit, returning their Polish decorations in solidarity. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, often at odds with Nawrocki, criticized the confrontation as a "strategic mistake" with costs for both nations.

The bitter dispute comes just days before the Ukraine Recovery Conference, scheduled to be hosted in Gdańsk. Consequently, President Zelenskyy, who was expected to attend, will skip the ceremony, with Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko leading the Ukrainian delegation instead. The European Commission has confirmed that President Ursula von der Leyen will participate as planned and has offered to mediate between the feuding parties, expressing confidence that the ongoing discussions will resolve the issue and ensure a successful conference. This marks the second instance this year where the Commission has had to carefully navigate a dispute between a member state and Kyiv, following an earlier disagreement between Hungary and Ukraine concerning the Druzhba pipeline.

Beyond the Poland-Ukraine crisis, "Europe Today" also covers other major headlines. Euronews' Mared Gwyn Jones reports on the political fallout in Britain following the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and its implications for relations with the European Union. Jakub Janas delves into the decade-long shift in public attitudes towards Brexit, questioning whether Britons would make the same choice today. Furthermore, Roman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the European Union, discusses President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to Brussels, highlighting the growing EU-Kazakhstan ties and new opportunities for economic and strategic cooperation. The program also brings the latest from the FIFA World Cup, including Lionel Messi becoming the tournament's all-time leading goalscorer, France securing a knockout stage spot, and Norway's qualification through an Erling Haaland masterclass.