The speaker of Ukraine’s parliament has supplied words of reconciliation more than Globe War II-era mass killings that have strained relations with its neighbor and strategic ally Poland for 80 years.
May perhaps 25, 2023, 9:18 a.m. ET
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WARSAW, Poland — The speaker of Ukraine’s parliament supplied words of reconciliation Thursday more than the Globe War II-era mass killings that have strained relations with its neighbor and strategic ally Poland for 80 years.
“Human life has equal worth, regardless of nationality, race, gender or religion,” Ruslan Stefanchuk told Polish MPs. “With this awareness, we will cooperate with you, dear Polish buddies, and we will accept the truth, no matter how uncompromising it could be.”
Stefanchuk’s words struck a new tone and contrasted with the Ukrainian ambassador’s current angry reaction to Poland’s expectations of an apology.
This year, Poland marks the 80th anniversary of the massacre of about one hundred,000 Poles in 1943-44. by Ukrainian nationalists and other individuals in Volhynia and other regions that have been then in eastern Poland, occupied by Nazi Germany, and are now portion of Ukraine.
Complete villages have been burned, and all their inhabitants have been killed by nationalists and their supporters in their efforts to establish an independent state of Ukraine. Poland calls these events genocide.
An estimated 15,000 Ukrainians died in retaliation.
Stefanchuk spoke in the Polish Parliament through his pay a visit to to Warsaw. Poland provides military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Stefanchuk thanked Poland for its quick assistance and then expressed his condolences to the households of the Poles killed in the so-referred to as massacre in Volhynia. He also supplied joint efforts to determine and honor all victims buried in Ukraine.
Poland has extended sought Kiev’s permission for exhumations, identification and commemoration of Polish victims. Nevertheless, some of the Ukrainian nationalist leaders of the time are thought of crucial figures for Ukrainian statehood, providing a diverse viewpoint on the events.
Stefanchuk thanked the households of the victims for nurturing a memory that “does not get in touch with for revenge or hatred, but serves as a warning that one thing like this can never ever occur once again in between our peoples.”
He stated that identifying and honoring the victims “without having prohibitions and barriers” is “our popular moral and Christian obligation.”
He stated an open, shared method to a painful history would be an “incredibly essential test” that could pave the way for the words “we forgive and seek forgiveness”. These words, supplied by Polish Catholic bishops to German bishops in the 1960s, laid the groundwork for Poland’s reconciliation with its Globe War II aggressor, Germany.
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau described Stefanchuk’s speech as “really excellent”, saying that “we heard what we wanted to hear”.
“We are on the proper track and this speech shows that our positions are receiving closer once again.” We have a lot to construct on,” Rau stated.
Polish leaders insisted that receiving the complete truth out in the open would strengthen bilateral relations with Ukraine and neutralize vulnerabilities that could be exploited by third nations looking for to undermine these ties.