Svyrydenko to Lead Ukrainian Delegation to Gdansk as Tusk Urges De-escalation

Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko will replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk, a move Prime Minister Donald Tusk describes as a positive step toward reducing bilateral tensions.

Recovery Conference in Gdansk

The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026) is scheduled to take place on June 25–26, 2026, in Gdansk. The event is co-organized by Warsaw and Kyiv. However, the Ukrainian delegation will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko rather than President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Tusk Calls for De-escalation

Addressing the recent friction between the two nations, Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated he is not disappointed by the change in leadership for the delegation. He described the shift as a move that could allow for a more efficient conference, characterizing it as a gesture toward de-escalating the emotional tension between Poland and Ukraine.

Tensions Over Historical Honors

Bilateral relations have been strained since May 26, when President Zelenskyy honored a Ukrainian Special Operations unit with the title “Named after the Heroes of the UPA.” The decision sought to honor those who fought against Soviet occupation, but it triggered significant backlash in Poland due to the UPA’s role in the massacres of 100,000–130,000 Poles during the 1940s.

Official Responses

The Polish government expressed strong opposition to the decree, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs voicing outrage and the head of the Institute of National Remembrance revoking Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded by stating that the name was chosen by soldiers to honor anti-imperial resistance, asserting there were no anti-Polish intentions behind the decision.