Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is scheduled to visit Warsaw on Wednesday, as announced by the Polish prime minister’s office. This visit follows what Poland has described as a significant advancement in resolving a historical dispute regarding wartime exhumations that has affected relations between the two nations.

Despite Poland’s strong support for Ukraine since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022, historical tensions have persisted, particularly due to the Volhynia massacres that occurred between 1943 and 1945.

Poland claims that over 100,000 Poles were killed by Ukrainian nationalists during these events, while thousands of Ukrainians also fell victim to retaliatory violence. For years, Poland has sought unrestricted access for its experts to the burial sites of the deceased, aiming to conduct exhumations for dignified funerals.

Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz indicated in October that Ukraine must address this matter to facilitate its accession to the European Union.

The historical killings have gained renewed political relevance this year, particularly as the leading opposition candidate in Poland’s presidential election, Karol Nawrocki, the conservative head of the National Remembrance Institute (IPN), has prioritized these issues in his campaign. On Friday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk celebrated a “breakthrough” in relations, announcing that Ukraine had agreed to permit the initial exhumations of the victims.

Zelenskiy is set to meet with Tusk on Wednesday, followed by a joint press conference at 1140 GMT. A Polish government official informed Reuters that there are numerous topics to address, particularly regarding exhumations. “Our main concern is how these exhumation decisions are implemented,” the official stated. According to the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, exhumation efforts are expected to commence in April.

DIALOGUE

The region where the massacres occurred, previously home to both Poles and Ukrainians, was part of Poland prior to World War II before being occupied by the Soviet Union. In 2013, the Polish parliament acknowledged the massacre perpetrated by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) during World War II as “ethnic cleansing with characteristics of genocide.”

Ukraine has not accepted this characterization and often views the Volhynia events as part of a broader conflict between Poland and Ukraine that impacted both nations. Kyiv officials have consistently expressed their willingness for “constructive dialogue” with Warsaw, emphasizing that historical issues should not hinder their collaboration.

This month, Poland assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, prioritizing the enhancement of the bloc’s security and its commitment to Ukraine, especially in light of Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration as U.S. president. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha mentioned this month that Kyiv anticipates new initiatives to support its efforts against Russia during this presidency.