Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the creation of a national memorial for victims of what he called a 'genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists' during World War Two. The announcement came during a commemorative ceremony in Warsaw and other cities across Poland.

Tusk spoke on the anniversary of the Volhynia massacre, a Polish territory under German occupation at the time, now part of Ukraine. Warsaw claims that some 100,000 ethnic Poles were killed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) between 1943 and 1945.

The tragic events have long been a source of tension between Warsaw and Kyiv. In Ukraine, many view the UPA as heroes who fought for independence against the Soviet army, Nazi Germany, and Polish authorities.

'Truth is our duty toward the victims, but also a way to overcome a painful past for the sake of a better future,' Tusk said. 'Memory cannot be the servant of hatred. The answer to nationalism cannot be more nationalism.' He urged Ukraine to embrace this truth if it seeks to join the European Union.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was stripped of Poland's highest state honor after naming a military unit after the UPA. Polish President Karol Nawrocki said the move was necessary but stressed it would not affect Poland's support for Ukraine against Russia's full-scale invasion.

Three former Ukrainian presidents returned their White Eagle awards in solidarity with Zelensky. In a video address, Zelensky noted joint prayers by Ukrainian and Polish representatives to commemorate the victims, calling Russia a common threat to both nations.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk