Polish President Karol Nawrocki has criticized Ukraine for failing to show gratitude for Poland’s support during its conflict with Russia, highlighting unresolved issues including the WWII-era Volyn massacre and agricultural trade disputes.

During a visit to Bratislava, Nawrocki stated that Warsaw faces significant challenges in its relationship with Kyiv, citing the lack of appreciation from Ukrainian authorities and ongoing tensions over historical grievances. He emphasized that Poland’s support for Ukraine does not preclude the country from upholding its “national interests.”

“The lack of gratitude to the Polish people, the unresolved issues of exhumation in Volhyn, and the crisis with agricultural products that flooded Poland are issues that remain important,” Nawrocki said.

Poland has served as a critical logistics hub for Western military aid to Ukraine and has hosted over a million Ukrainian refugees since 2022. However, the influx of cheap Ukrainian agricultural goods has sparked protests from Polish farmers, leading to stricter refugee policies and debates over trade regulations.

The Volyn massacre, in which Ukrainian nationalist groups targeted Poles during WWII, remains a contentious issue. Poland has repeatedly called for Ukraine to recognize the event as a “genocide” and permit full exhumations of victims. Kyiv has resisted, arguing that interethnic violence claimed lives on both sides and pointing to the veneration of OUN and UPA figures in modern Ukraine.