Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded two Polish volunteers with official honors during his stop in Poland today, Saturday. However, he did not meet with any officials due to strained relations between Kyiv and Warsaw over grain imports. Poland decided last week to extend its ban on imports of Ukrainian grains, which has shaken Kyiv's relationship with its neighbor, one of its strongest allies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
The Polish Prime Minister asked Zelensky yesterday, Friday, not to "offend" the Polish people, continuing his harsh rhetoric towards Kyiv ahead of the upcoming elections on October 15. The ruling Law and Justice party faces criticism from the far-right, which accuses the government of being too subservient to Ukraine.
Zelensky angered his neighbors when he stated during a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York that Kyiv is working to maintain land routes for grain exports, but the "political theater" regarding imports only benefits Moscow.
On his way back to his homeland today, Zelensky presented the awards to Bianka Zalewska, a journalist who helped transport injured children to Polish hospitals, and Damian Duda, who assembled a medical team to assist injured soldiers near the front lines.
Zelensky thanked all Poles who "opened their homes and families since the first days of the war and were ready to help." He remarked, "I believe that any challenges in our shared path are insignificant compared to the reality of such a strong bond between our peoples." Duda told Reuters that Zelensky was not acting formally at all during the meeting and seemed like an old friend. He added, "For us, politics does not matter; what matters is providing assistance to those in need."
