Zelenskyy gives state awards to Polish volunteers in Lublin, skips meeting senior leaders

Amid brewing tensions between Ukraine and Poland, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy me a brief visit to its Eastern European neighbour, however, he skipped meeting senior Polish officials. During his visit, Ukrainian leer awarded two Polish volunteers with Ukrainian state awards on Saturday. Zelenskyy concluded his trip to United States where he attended United Nations General Assembly. From re he me a brief stopover in Polish city of Lublin and took a train to Ukraine on Saturday. 

“While in Lublin on my way back to Ukraine, I was honoured to award two prominent Poles, volunteers, Bianka Zalewska and Damian Duda, Ukrainian state awards,” Ukrainian president wrote in a tweet sharing video of ceremony. “I thank Poland for its invaluable support and solidarity that helps defend freedom of our entire Europe!” he ded. ties between two nations soured to a great extent after Poland decided last week to extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports along with or Eastern European countries like Hungary and Slovakia. Ukrainian leer went on to anger his neighbour when he told UNGA that Ukraine was working to preserve land routes for grain exports, but that “political atre” around imports was only helping Russia. 

‘Never insult Poles again,’ Polish PM warns Zelenskyy 

Earlier this week, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “never insult Poles again." According to Polish news outlet PAP,  Polish PM unleashed a scathing attack against Zelenskyy at a rally in Świdnik. “I want to tell President Zelenskyy to never again insult Poles, as he did recently during his speech at UN. Poles will not allow this. And protecting Poland's good name is not only my duty and honour, it is most important task of government of republic. In current geopolitical context, we will defend all our arguments,” Morawiecki asserted, making it clear that government will prioritise its own citizens. “We will defend all our arguments in current geopolitical context and we know how se arguments should be shaped,” he ded. 

Prior to this warning, Polish Prime Minister announced that Eastern European country will no longer send arms to Ukraine, amid tre dispute. “Poland is no longer transferring any weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming ourselves with most modern weapons,” Morawiecki said in a television interview, earlier this month. Government spokesman, Piotr Mueller, later clarified that country was now only providing supplies of ammunition and armaments that h previously been agreed to, noting that a series of “absolutely unacceptable” statements and diplomatic gestures appeared on Ukrainian side, can be considered as a part of reason for such a measure taken by Warsaw.