Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issues statement on the Volhynian Tragedy

The Ministry emphasized its deep respect for the shared history of the Ukrainian and Polish peoples and the importance of maintaining strategic partnership, especially in light of Russian aggression.

This was reported on the Telegram channel of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement underscores that Ukraine approaches the sensitivity of the Volhynian Tragedy in Polish society with understanding, while acknowledging the complexity of these historical events for Ukrainians.

«Today, our peoples have a moral duty — not only to the memory of the victims but also to present and future generations — to preserve the legacy of cooperation, mutual trust, and strategic partnership, ” the statement reads.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry advocates for an honest, responsible, and balanced historical dialogue, free from politicization and one-sided interpretations, and relies on the prudence of Polish partners in assessing the past. To maintain unity in countering the common enemy — Russia — Ukraine seeks to address all bilateral issues in a constructive spirit, as demonstrated by concrete steps, including the resumption of exhumation processes and dialogue on historical matters.

The Ministry notes that two nationwide roundtables involving leading historians and experts on Ukrainian-Polish relations have recently been held in Ukraine. These events confirmed that the Volhynian Tragedy was a tragedy for both nations and requires joint, objective assessments based on professional research.

Ukraine acknowledges constructive cooperation with Poland in search and exhumation efforts, the proper maintenance of burial sites, and the identification of all victims. Continuing this joint work will strengthen mutual understanding between the two peoples.

The Ministry also proposed resuming the activities of the Ukrainian-Polish Historians’ Forum and the Partnership Forum as important platforms for exchanging views and fostering mutual understanding. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry emphasizes the destructive role of Russia, which seeks to divide Ukrainians and Poles by exploiting painful pages of the past.

«Unfortunately, some Polish politicians, knowingly or unknowingly, play into the aggressor’s hands in these efforts, ” the statement says.

The Ministry highlights that Russia’s crimes, exemplified by Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, and other Ukrainian cities, demonstrate the fate that awaits Poland if the aggressor is not stopped in Ukraine.

«Good-neighborly relations between Ukraine and Poland remain crucial for both countries, given their shared interests, historical closeness, and the challenges and threats posed by the Russian aggressor, ” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes.