Zelensky Initiated Granting Special Status to Poles on Volyn Tragedy Anniversary, - Duda

, 11 July 2022, 15:36

President of Poland Andrzej Duda announced that President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday initiated granting special status to Poles in Ukraine.

"Today, Ukraine, by this act and gesture of the president, makes a symbolic invitation, saying: you are welcome here with special rights," said the Polish president in Warsaw during a ceremony commemorating the victims of the Volyn tragedy, reports PAP.

The draft bill is not yet available on the Verkhovna Rada website.

On Monday, Poland commemorates the victims of the Volyn tragedy, the day that for several years has formally been the National Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Genocide of the Citizens of the Polish Republic committed by Ukrainian Nationalists.

Duda laid a wreath at the monument to the victims of the tragedy in Warsaw. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Zvarych, laid a wreath on behalf of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Skwer Wołyński w Warszawie. Prezydent @AndrzejDuda złożył wieniec przy Pomniku Ofiar Ludobójstwa. Wieniec złożył także przedstawiciel Prezydenta Ukrainy @ZelenskyyUa, Ambasador agréé @Vasyl_Zvarych. pic.twitter.com/qKrUh8I2yU
— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) July 11, 2022

In his speech, Duda proposed "to rely on the truth" to strengthen relations between Poles and Ukrainians.

"I deeply believe that Poland and Ukraine will be in the union, they will be stronger when both our peoples are in friendship and union, remembering history, praying, paying tribute to the killed, but also understanding that in history there were difficult times and there were dramatic and tragic mistakes that can never be repeated," Andrzej Duda said.

In May, President Zelensky announced a bill on enhanced opportunities for Polish citizens in Ukraine to thank Poland for accepting Ukrainians fleeing the war.