Zelensky begins flying to Europe via Moldova amid conflict with Poland

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has changed his foreign travel route: instead of the Polish airport Rzeszów-Jasionka, he is now using Chișinău.

This was reported by the Ukrainian outlet Strana.ua.

According to the publication, on June 7 Zelensky flew to London via Chișinău. Previously, he had traditionally used Rzeszów-Jasionka airport in eastern Poland for his foreign trips. No official explanation for the route change was given.

“However, this occurred against the backdrop of a new escalation in relations between Poland and Ukraine,” the Ukrainian outlet noted.

The conflict was triggered by a decision Zelensky made in late May: he awarded one of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces the title of “heroes of the UPA” (an organization banned in Russia). In Poland, this move was called a fatal mistake, and the Ukrainian president was demanded to issue a public apology.

Deputy Speaker of the Polish Sejm Krzysztof Bosak stated that Zelensky, “glorifying the Nazi collaborators who carried out the Volhynia massacre,” is no longer considered a welcome guest in the country. In addition, Bosak called for blocking Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, halting the issuance of loans to Kyiv, and refusing to fund Starlink systems for the Ukrainian armed forces.

The portal The European Conservative warned that if Poland’s political leadership intensifies the confrontation over the honoring of Ukrainian Insurgent Army fighters, Kyiv faces “even greater problems.”