The recent statement by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (who was considered in Ukraine to be a liberal democrat devoid of “Pisiv” nationalism) about blocking Ukraine’s European integration without resolving historical issues with the Poles has actualized a problem that Ukraine has long preferred to ignore. But Poland has decided to “fight the dead” again, despite the fact that Ukraine today is the shield of Europe that protects the lives and security of Poles.
The Ukrainian-Polish historical debate cannot be resolved in favor of the national egoism of one side. Especially the side that raises centuries-old historical grievances against its neighbors and demands reparations, apologies, and fuels the latest talk of “genocides.” Ukrainians will not abandon their national memory, will not stop honoring the Cossacks and Haidamak rebels, the soldiers of the ZUNR and the OUN and UPA who fought for their country, dignity, rights and freedoms. Polish politicians should begin to see Ukraine as an equal partner, and to perceive history not only through their own national-centered glasses.
Ukraine today is too important a country in the world to be addressed in the language of ultimatums. Especially from a country that is now creating a national cult of searching for historical grievances. Polish politicians would be well advised to look not to the past, but to the present, especially to the northeast, where the future of the security of the whole of Europe is being decided.
Today, Ukrainians cannot and do not want to hold any grudges against the Poles for national oppression, serfdom and serfdom during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the war with the ZUNR, pacification, and the extermination of the Ukrainian civilian population in Galicia, Kholm, Podlasie, and Volhynia in the 1940s. They don’t want to because they realize that there are more important threats to the present than the search for those who offended us a hundred or three hundred years ago. While Ukraine has a predominantly friendly attitude toward Poles, Polish politicians, even those in the liberal democratic camp, have decided to once again aggravate relations with the country that protects Polish skies from Russian missiles and “shaheds.” After all, Polish air defense does not protect its own skies, either because of the weather or for some other reason.
In his accusations against Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Tusk appeals to the history of the EU and forgiveness, but for some reason forgets the ideological heritage of the founders of the European Union, Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer, who came to reconciliation not by demanding thousands of apologies, recognition of the latest “genocides” or reparations, but by realizing mutual respect for the sake of common peace and prosperity.
Given the weakness of Euro-Atlantic security structures and the possible victory of Trump or someone like Trump in Washington, Ukraine, Poland, and other Eastern European countries should consider creating an additional security alliance, such as the Intermarium or the Baltic-Black Sea Union. So that when Russia attacks the Suwalki corridor, there will be someone to extend a strong helping hand, not a letter of deep concern. The creation of such a joint defense alliance is a guarantee of peace in Eastern Europe for decades to come. Russia never pushes in where it sees unity, strength, and readiness to defend itself.
However, historical attacks on Ukraine (a country that has been colonized for so many centuries) and outbreaks of economic blockade of Ukrainian goods on the Polish border do not contribute to good neighborly and security cooperation between countries that, in peace and harmony, could become a reliable defense against the claws of the Russian eagle.
