Speaker of the Polish Sejm demands Ukraine recognize the Volhynia tragedy as "genocide" to join the EU

Spokesperson of the Polish Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty said that Ukrainians must rethink all aspects of their history in order to join the European Union. In particular, he said, Ukraine must recognize the Volhynia tragedy 1943–1944 years as a genocide of Poles. He said this after a meeting with Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk in the Polish town of Szczawnica, Rzeczpospolita reports.

The Speaker of the Polish Sejm said he supports Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, but at the same time stressed that to join, Ukrainians will have to "reflect on all aspects of their history."

"The EU is democracy and values; it is not just an ATM. It also means calling a genocide what it is. This is history, and no nation can run away from its history," he said.

Czarzasty drew attention to the current crisis in Polish-Ukrainian relations and the related social tensions. He noted that "people who loved each other four years ago are now arguing in Poland." He also said he condemns "all forms of improper treatment both by Poles toward Ukrainians and by Ukrainians toward Poles."

10 August in 22 cities in Poland there were mass peaceful actions under the slogan “Don’t be indifferent.” Participants in the demonstrations protested against the growing wave of violence, hate speech, and discrimination directed at Ukrainians and other national minorities.

8 September in Polish Kraków a man who attacked a Ukrainian couple turned himself in to the police.