'Time has come to enter into negotiations to freeze the front line and to end the killing,' says Friedrich Merz
GDAŃSK – A Ukraine recovery conference opened in the shadow of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president’s, decision to stay away and after Kyiv sent Yulia Svyrydenko, the prime minister, to lead its delegation instead.
The run-up to the gathering was marred by a diplomatic spat between the Ukrainian and Polish presidents, triggered by Zelenskyy’s decision to name a Ukrainian military unit “Heroes of the UPA”.
Karol Nawrocki, Poland’s president, a domestic rival of Donald Tusk, the prime minister, responded by revoking Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state honour.
Zelenskyy returned the award, and several current and former Ukrainian officials followed by handing back Polish state decorations.
