Sergiy Solodkyy, Director of the New Europe Center, spoke to The Kyiv Independent about the decision of the Lviv Oblast Council to declare 2027 the Year of the UPA, the Year of Shukhevych, and the Year of Oleh Olzhych, and about Warsaw’s response to it.

Polish officials condemned the decision, while Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs distanced itself from it, calling it counterproductive to efforts to develop bilateral relations. The dispute arose just days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that relations with Poland had finally improved.

“Additional foreign policy challenges are the last thing Ukraine needs today”, Sergiy Solodkyy said. “At a time when Kyiv is engaged in a difficult dialogue with the United States and European support is becoming even more critical, Ukrainians have a particular interest in preserving a spirit of partnership with all EU member states”.

According to the expert, the moment is especially sensitive, as Ukraine’s relations with its neighbors were only beginning to move in a positive direction: “Opening another dispute would clearly run counter to Ukraine’s strategic interests”, Sergiy Solodkyy told The Kyiv Independent.

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