Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Budanov refused the Polish award after Zelensky was stripped of the Order of the White Eagle Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, has refused a Polish state award in response to Poland stripping President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle. Budanov called this action an unfriendly act detrimental to both Ukraine and Poland, suggesting it benefits Russia. He emphasized that while Ukraine will assess the situation, its partnership with Poland, built on mutual respect, will continue.

• Kyrylo Budanov refused the Golden Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
• This decision was a response to Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki stripping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle.
• Budanov described the stripping of Zelensky’s award as an unfriendly act and a gift to the Russian aggressor.
• The decision to strip Zelensky followed his awarding a Ukrainian military unit the name of UPA soldiers, whom Warsaw associates with killings of Poles during WWII.
• Budanov stated that Ukraine does not dictate how other nations interpret their past and expects similar respect for its national memory.
• He noted that Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, Hitler’s ally, has not had his Order of the White Eagle revoked, citing inconsistency.
• Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga called the stripping of the award a strategic mistake benefiting only Moscow.
• Budanov affirmed that Ukraine will continue its fight on behalf of Europe, including Poland, based on mutual respect.