Ukraine announces consent to exhumation of victims of the Volyn crime

Ministers of abroad Affairs of Poland and Ukraine Radosław Sikorski and Andrei Sybiha adopted a joint message in which Ukraine confirmed that there are no obstacles to conducting exploration and exhumation work in its territory.

After gathering with Sybiha, Sikorski besides stressed that Ukraine must regain its territories within internationally recognized borders. In the event of the beginning of talks about the end of the war, any solution prepared must be accepted by our Ukrainian friends," he said.

The heads of Polish and Ukrainian diplomacy met in Warsaw on Tuesday. At a press conference, Sikorski informed that he and Sybiha had agreed on the content of a joint message addressing, among others, the issue of exhumation.

– Ukraine confirms that there are no obstacles to the conduct by Polish state institutions and private entities in cooperation with the competent Ukrainian institutions of search and exhumation work in the territory of Ukraine, in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, and declares its readiness to deal positively with requests in these cases – quoted Sikorski's statement. He added that the Polish side would mobilise its own institutions, specified as the Institute of National Memory, “to the sensitivity to Ukrainian postulates”.

As he later explained in an interview with journalists, the MFA spokesperson Paweł Wroński, this is simply a landmark decision to abolish the moratorium in force since 2017 for the search and exhumation of the remains of Polish victims of the Volynsk crime. He added that exhumations could start in the spring.

Sikorski declared that the adopted message indicates precedence areas of engagement of Poland and Ukraine, defines the principles which both countries will follow in their activities, and is besides a tangible proof of close relations between Poland and Ukraine.

The head of the MFA recalled that Poland has supported its east neighbour militarily and economically since the beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. – Counting military, economic, financial, humanitarian and exile support, according to our statistics, Poland has spent more than any another country on aid to Ukraine in proportion to GDP said Sikorski.

– I would like to emphasise our position: Ukraine must regain its territory within internationally recognised borders. In the event of the beginning of talks about the end of the war – which we believe is not happening so far – looking at Russia's always more violent attacks (...), all solution prepared must be accepted by our Ukrainian friends. Poland will support them in this – declared Sikorski.

The head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs stressed that all solution concerning Ukraine will have direct consequences for Poland's security. – We know from the past of Poland attempts to get along with the powers above the heads of the countries concerned. They've done nothing good in the past. – he noted.

He stated that Poland is supporting the fast and efficient accession of Ukraine to the European Union. He besides assured that the Polish authorities would usage the period of the upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU to velocity up the process as much as possible, but "as much as the methodology of the Union allows".

He argued that Ukraine's membership of the EU is in the strategical interest of our country. At the same time, he pointed out that negotiations on Ukraine's membership of the EU would be complicated and would address delicate issues specified as transport and agriculture. "But I want to make it clear that no issues unrelated to membership in the European Union will affect our position," said Sikorski. He announced that they would discuss with Sybiha how “Poland can supply expert support to Ukraine in the accession process”.

– As a Presidency, we will not only strive to keep Ukraine advanced on the EU agenda, but we will besides mobilise our partners to impose additional sanctions on the Russian Federation, including the inclusion of the alleged shadow fleet, which Russia uses to circumvent sanctions – announced the head of the Polish Ministry of abroad Affairs.

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy besides said that with Sikorski he discussed hard issues of the historical past. He assured that the Ukrainians and Poles were curious in not misunderstandings between us. – Every household has the right to honor the memory of their ancestors. said Sybiha.

– Currently, as part of a joint Ukrainian-Polish working group under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture of Poland and Ukraine, we are working on applicable mechanisms for conducting search and exhumation work – informed the head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs of Ukraine. He added that specified a provision was besides included in the joint declaration.

As he said, the adopted message underlines the joint "determination to work towards restoring fair peace and a common triumph for Ukraine and partners over criminal Russian aggression". He pointed out that no compromise could be made on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

As he stressed, the fresh engagement of North Korean troops, attacks on atomic power facilities, and the usage of a mid-range ballistic rocket show that Russia is not seeking peace, but wants war.

– This means that Russia can only be made to peace by force— said Sybiha. In his opinion, Ukraine's partners must take a number of decisive steps, specified as expanding military support for Ukraine and strengthening the air shield, as well as strengthening sanctions against Russia, especially its shadow fleet and the metallurgical industry.

– We anticipate the 15th package of EU sanctions during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union – said Sybiha. As he said, it is unacceptable erstwhile European countries issue hundreds of thousands of Schengen visas each year to Russian citizens. – They are a threat to the safety of the associate States and we are convinced that it is time to limit the issuance of visas – he said.

Sybiha emphasized his gratitude for Poland's support. As examples, he mentioned "an ambitious safety agreement, which Ukraine and Poland signed this year" and the formation of the Ukrainian Legion in Poland. However, he besides spoke of the expected support in the form of shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine, stressing that Russia attacks cities, infrastructure and civilians in his country daily. – We request immediate bold decisions. He stressed.

The Minister added that Ukraine is counting on the support of the Polish Presidency "for an efficient and fast negotiation process Ukraine – European Union". – During our talks, we agreed that Ukraine's membership of NATO is the only way to guarantee the long-term safety of Europe. Ukraine needs an invitation to NATO right now – stated the head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs of Ukraine.

Sybiha besides appreciated the function of Poland as the main hub for global aid to Ukraine. – This besides means that Poland will play an active part in the reconstruction of Ukraine. We invitation Polish business to participate in reconstruction projects – he said.

He besides expressed hope of signing an agreement with Poland to conduct a common border control. – We believe that the transit of agricultural goods from Ukraine should take place without hindrance – added.

Sybiha added that cooperation between Poland and Ukraine "is a warrant of security, stableness and improvement for both countries and for Europe as a whole". He besides expressed "deep gratitude to all Pole, all Polish household for the immeasurable support of Ukraine".

Since spring 2017, there has been a dispute between Warsaw and Kiev about the ban on the search and exhumation of the remains of Polish victims of wars and conflicts in Ukraine, introduced by Ukrainian IPN. The ban was issued after the removal of the UPA monument in Hruszowice, which occurred in April 2017.

Poland and Ukraine have for many years different memories about the function of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and Ukrainian Insurgency Army, which committed genocide cultural cleansing in about 100,000 Polish men, women and children from 1943 to 1945. While this is simply a condemnable crime of genocide (mass and organized), Ukrainians call execution the effect of a symmetrical armed conflict, for which both parties were equally responsible. In addition, they want to see CNS and UPA only as anti-Soviet organizations (because of their post-war opposition against the USSR), alternatively than anti-Polish.

In 2017 – 2024, the IPN sent 9 authoritative general proposals to the authorities of the Ukrainian administration, which included agreeing on the anticipation of conducting search and exhumation work in a full of 65 locations (places repeated due to the request to renew applications). any of them were considered positively and work was carried out, in another places there was no agreement on the work, any of them were unanswered.

Source: PAP

RoM