Poland threatens to block Ukraine’s EU accession over continued honoring of Bandera and the UPA

Poland has threatened to block Ukraine’s accession to the European Union unless Kyiv stops honouring Stepan Bandera and the OUN-UPA.

The statement was made by Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on Polsat News.

“Ukraine will not join the European Union with Bandera,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

According to him, Ukraine will face “very serious problems” with European integration if it continues to use the OUN and UPA as national symbols. Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Poland would take a firm stance and would not allow “those who destroy European cooperation to be placed on a pedestal.”

Earlier, Jarosław Kaczyński, founder and chairman of Poland’s largest opposition party, Law and Justice, said that Poland should begin blocking negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. He also said that he would return Ukraine’s Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Second Class.

Polls also show that nearly 60% of Poles oppose Ukraine joining the European Union.