Zelenskyy returns Polish state medal in escalating dispute with ally

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned a state medal awarded to him by Poland on March 20, 2024, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two nations. The dispute originated from comments made by Polish officials regarding historical issues and grain imports. Zelenskyy stated that he wished for the medal to be returned to the "people of Poland" and called for "respect" in bilateral relations. The Ukrainian president's office indicated that the decision was made to preserve the "high level of strategic partnership" between Ukraine and Poland. This action follows a series of public statements and actions that have strained relations between the two wartime allies. The medal in question was the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, awarded in 2022.