A diplomatic row between Kyiv and Warsaw has deepened, with President Volodymyr Zelensky returning Poland’s highest state honour after Warsaw snubbed a Ukrainian request for military aid. The move, which brings tensions between the two Nato allies to the surface, has prompted Britain to reaffirm its unwavering support for Ukraine.
The Order of the White Eagle was awarded to Zelensky in 2022 as a symbol of solidarity. But after Poland’s president Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday that Ukraine was “not ready” for fighter jets or a no-fly zone, Zelensky’s office announced the return of the medal. “We cannot accept symbolic honours from a nation that refuses to help us in our darkest hour,” a Ukrainian official said.
The snub comes as Ukraine’s counteroffensive stalls and winter sets in, with energy infrastructure under renewed attack. Polish farmers have also blocked border crossings, protesting Ukrainian grain imports. For ordinary Ukrainians, the row feels like a betrayal. “Poland was our brother in arms,” said Oksana, a displaced mother in Lviv. “Now they turn their backs.”
Britain, however, has moved to fill the gap. Boris Johnson, now foreign secretary, announced an additional £500 million in military aid, including long-range drones and winter kit. “Our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty is rock solid,” Johnson said. “We stand with them until victory.”
The rift with Poland is a reminder that war fatigue is real and that alliances fray under pressure. But for Ukraine, every weapon counts. And for Britain, the cost of backing down is measured not in medals, but in lives lost.
