Zelensky Returns Order of the White Eagle, Yet Diplomatic Wrangling Over Revocation Persists

Following a decision by the Ukrainian president to return Poland’s highest state honor amidst historical tensions, the presidential office in Warsaw continues to seek a prime ministerial countersignature for the formal revocation.

The Origins of the Dispute

The conflict began in May when President Volodymyr Zelensky named a Ukrainian military unit after the “Heroes of the UPA.” This move caused significant outrage in Poland, as the Ukrainian Insurgent Army was responsible for the 1943 massacres of Poles in the Volhynia and Eastern Galicia regions. Many Ukrainians, however, view the UPA primarily as an anti-Soviet force rather than an anti-Polish one.

Revocation Attempt by Karol Nawrocki

In June, Karol Nawrocki decided to strip Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, which had been awarded by President Andrzej Duda in 2023. Nawrocki cited the murder of at least 100,000 Polish citizens during the war as the primary justification for his move. One day after this announcement, the Ukrainian president confirmed he had returned the medal to Poland.

Legal Impasse Over the Countersignature

Two days after Zelensky’s announcement, the President’s office sent the draft revocation order to the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, demanding a countersignature. The Prime Minister’s office responded that the matter is now moot given that the order has been returned. The President’s office maintains it has received no formal response or return of the document.

Contrasting Legal Perspectives

Legal scholars remain divided on whether a prime ministerial signature is required to revoke an order. Some experts argue that because granting an order is a presidential prerogative, revocation should follow the same rules. Others contend that since revocation is not explicitly listed as a presidential prerogative in the constitution, it requires government validation.

Does Returning the Medal Change the Legal Status?

Experts are split on whether Zelensky’s act of returning the physical medal effectively ends the legal proceedings. While some believe the gesture constitutes a formal renunciation of the honor, others, such as Dr. Mateusz Radajewski, argue that one remains a recipient until the award is officially revoked via a valid legal process, regardless of whether the physical decoration is in the recipient’s possession.