Polish president says he stripped Zelenskyy of White Eagle order after ‘pain threshold’ was exceeded
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Karol Nawrocki stated that Poles know that there is a Russian threat, but the "pain threshold" of the Polish nation has been exceeded (Photo: Karol Nawrocki via X)
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Poland’s highest state honor, the Order of the White Eagle, because what he described as the Polish public’s "pain threshold" had been exceeded.
Speaking during National Silesian Uprisings Day commemorations, Nawrocki said Poles do not need lessons about the realities of war and recalled Poland’s turbulent history throughout the 20th century, according to broadcaster TVN24.
"We fought Soviet forces in 1920, suffered as victims of German and Soviet totalitarianism, and resisted Soviet domination from 1945 until 1989," Nawrocki said.
He added that Poles understand the threat posed by Russia but that the nation also has limits when it comes to issues affecting Poland and its allies.
"That threshold has been exceeded. That is why I stripped President Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle," Nawrocki said.
Zelenskyy responds
Earlier, Zelenskyy said he had sent the award back to Nawrocki after the Polish president revoked it.
"Yesterday, the president of Poland stated that the Order of the White Eagle is not an ordinary distinction. It is a symbol of the highest trust of the Republic of Poland and a sign of special gratitude from the Polish people," Zelenskyy said.
"Therefore, if it is believed that this symbol can remain with Catherine the Great, Benito Mussolini, and Gerhard Schröder, then we in Ukraine will not argue with that," he added, publishing a photograph of the award being sent by mail.
White Eagle dispute — what happened
Nawrocki announced the decision to revoke Zelenskyy’s award on June 19.
"I want to emphasize that this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people. It does not change the strategic direction of Poland’s security policy," the Polish president said at the time.
According to Nawrocki, the dispute stems from Ukraine’s decision to grant a Special Operations Forces unit an honorary title referencing the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
Poland had repeatedly informed Kyiv of its concerns regarding the issue and urged Ukrainian authorities to reconsider the decision, Nawrocki said.
"Poland and Ukraine had been gradually moving toward lasting reconciliation on historical issues in recent years, but the decision to glorify the UPA is not only outrageous, but also incomprehensible and deeply disappointing," he argued.
The controversy began after Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 440/2026 on May 26, granting the Northern Special Operations Center of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces an honorary designation in honor of the Heroes of the UPA.
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