Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, stated that Kyiv will not yield to pressure from any country and urged Poland to stop speaking in terms of ultimatums.
Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, declared that the escalation of relations between Kyiv and Warsaw will reach its peak on Saturday, July 11, the National Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Volhynia tragedy, commemorated in Poland.
The Volhynia tragedy was a series of events that led to the ethnic cleansing of Polish and Ukrainian populations in 1943, during World War II. This event was part of a long-standing rivalry between Ukrainians and Poles in western Ukraine. Poland considers the Volhynia tragedy a genocide against the Polish population.
"From the information I have, they are preparing a whole series of escalation measures that, in my opinion, are immature," Budanov stated in an interview for RBC-Ukraine.
At the same time, the official emphasized that Ukraine will not accept any ultimatum from Poland.
"The last one who tried to give us an ultimatum was the Russian Federation. Without offending Poland, but Russia is somewhat stronger than Poland," Budanov stated.
"We did not accept Russia's ultimatum. So why would anyone think that we would accept one from anyone else? Do not speak to us in terms of ultimatums," added the head of the Ukrainian presidential office.
Asked how Ukraine will respond to Warsaw's escalation measures, Budanov replied, "No one will stand idly by."
According to the latest poll in Poland, nearly half of the respondents hold Ukraine responsible for the escalation of the conflict between Warsaw and Kyiv.
During a meeting with his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski, held on Friday in Warsaw, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sîbiha proposed "a crisis management package" aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated on Saturday that he has received "clear signals" from some current and former high-ranking Ukrainian officials, but he expects Kyiv to take the first step towards de-escalating bilateral relations.
T.D.