Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend this week’s Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko instead leading Kyiv’s delegation amid a growing diplomatic dispute between Ukraine and Poland.
Svyrydenko confirmed on Tuesday that she will head Ukraine’s participation at the conference, which takes place June 25-26 and is jointly hosted by Poland and Ukraine. The delegation will include government officials, lawmakers, business leaders and local representatives focused on securing new agreements to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, energy sector and defence capabilities.
The annual conference is designed to mobilize international support for rebuilding Ukraine and attracting investment to businesses affected by the ongoing war with Russia.
Zelenskyy’s absence comes as relations between Kyiv and Warsaw face renewed strain following a disagreement over historical issues linked to the Second World War.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki recently revoked Poland’s highest state honour, the Order of the White Eagle, from Zelenskyy after Ukrainian authorities named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, a nationalist force involved in the wartime Volhynia massacres that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Poles.
The decision triggered a sharp response from Ukraine. Several Ukrainian officials returned Polish state honours, while three former Ukrainian presidents also gave back their Orders of the White Eagle. Zelenskyy subsequently returned his own medal.
The dispute has also sparked political debate within Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and members of his government criticized Nawrocki’s move, arguing it risks damaging Poland’s strategic relationship with Ukraine at a critical moment in the war.
Poland has been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters since Russia’s full-scale invasion and is expected to play a major role in future reconstruction efforts. Officials in Warsaw have warned that escalating tensions could undermine cooperation at a time when international backing for Ukraine remains essential.
Despite Zelenskyy’s absence, Ukrainian officials say the Gdańsk conference will proceed as planned, with a focus on securing investment, rebuilding infrastructure and strengthening Ukraine’s long-term economic resilience.
