On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded honours to the mayors of Poland's eastern cities of Chełm, Rzeszów, Lublin and Przemyśl for their
support of Ukraine and its people during the Russian invasion. The ceremony was held at the office of Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who expressed his gratitude and support for the Ukrainian soldiers fighting for freedom and safety for Poland and Europe.
Zelensky's visit to Warsaw was his first official trip to Poland since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year. During his one-day state visit, he held talks with Poland's President Andrzej Duda, attended a Polish-Ukrainian business forum, and addressed the public outside the Polish capital's Royal Castle. Zelensky also met with Poland's top lawmakers, lower-house Speaker Elżbieta Witek and upper-house Speaker Tomasz Grodzki, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the need for continued international support.
Poland has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine throughout the conflict, with Polish MPs continually raising the issue of Russia's war against Ukraine during international talks to ensure that Western countries do not become complacent or forget about the conflict. The Polish lower house, the Sejm, has adopted numerous resolutions expressing solidarity with Ukraine, and has passed a law granting comprehensive assistance to Ukrainian war refugees. Polish lawmakers have also been working with other European leaders to highlight Russian crimes, such as the deportation of Ukrainian children and the trafficking of women.
During the meeting, Zelensky thanked the Polish nation for its support and called on Polish lawmakers to continue publicising the tragedy of women and children being deported from Ukraine for the purposes of Russification. He also urged Polish legislators to build support in other European parliaments for the establishment of a special tribunal to try Russian crimes.
Zelensky and Witek also discussed ways to combat Russian disinformation during their meeting at Warsaw's Royal Castle. This has been a significant issue throughout the conflict, with Russia spreading false information and propaganda to sow confusion and create division among Ukrainians and their supporters.
The honours awarded to the mayors of Poland's eastern cities underscore the importance of international support and solidarity in times of crisis. Zelensky's visit to Poland and his meetings with top Polish officials highlight the need for continued international attention and assistance in resolving the conflict in Ukraine and restoring peace and stability to the region.