Gitanas Nausėda. Photo: Getty Images
Amid a diplomatic dispute between Ukraine and Poland, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has said he would agree to mediate in resolving it if the two countries express such a wish.
Lithuania's Nausėda offers to help Ukraine and Poland resolve diplomatic dispute
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has said he is ready to help Ukraine and Poland resolve their diplomatic dispute.
Ukrainska Pravda
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Quote: "First of all, they themselves must express such a wish. I also noted in my annual report that I am ready to do everything to prevent ties from being severed between two countries close to us – Poland and Ukraine."
Details: Nausėda said he will travel on 27 June to the north of Poland, to the summer residence of Polish President Karol Nawrocki, where he will have an opportunity to discuss the issue in an informal setting.
Quote: "We will discuss this issue, which is very important to me."
More details: Nausėda said both sides currently appear intent on resolving the diplomatic dispute directly, without the involvement of mediators.
Quote: "I heard this statement from Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. But if both sides conclude that a mediator is needed, if such a request is made, I am certainly ready to do this."
More details: During his weekend visit to Poland, Nausėda said he wants to hear more from Nawrocki himself about the background to the dispute and what could be done to normalise the situation.
He also said Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko made it clear at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, held in Gdańsk this week, that she wants to settle the dispute.
Quote: "The past is important, but the present is especially important when aggression against Ukraine continues."
Background:
On the evening of 19 June, Nawrocki took the decision to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle in connection with the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. He said Poland would not allow EU accession for those who do not understand the need to renounce the "cult of totalitarianism and violence".
Following the decision, a number of current and former Ukrainian officials announced that they would return their Polish honours.
Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the opposition Polish party Law and Justice (PiS), said Poland should start blocking new rounds of talks in Ukraine's EU accession process.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on 26 June that Ukraine is willing to engage in an equal, honest and mutually beneficial partnership with Poland.
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