On Saturday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky paid a visit to Poland. This was an unanticipated trip. As he reported on social media, he was in Lublin. “I thank Poland for its invaluable support and solidarity that helps defend freedom of our entire Europe!”, he wrote.
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The Ukrainian President announced his visit through social media. “While in Lublin on my way back to Ukraine, I was honored to award two prominent Poles, volunteers, Bianka Zalewska and Damian Duda, Ukrainian state awards,” he penned.
Zelensky in Lublin. “I thank Poland for its invaluable support and solidarity“
He conveyed that in Lubin, he awarded two individuals – journalist Bianca Zalewska, who since 2014 has been reporting events in Ukraine, and Polish medic Damian Dude.
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“Bianka is a journalist for TVN Discovery Poland who has helped provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainians and transport wounded children to Polish hospitals.” – wrote Zelensky on X.
“Damian is a civilian volunteer and medic who gathered a team of medics to save our wounded soldiers near the frontline. He created a fund to assist medics, provide training, and provide vital medical assistance.,” he wrote.
“I thank Poland for its invaluable support and solidarity that helps defend freedom of our entire Europe,” he emphasized.
"I thank Poland for its invaluable support and solidarity that helps defend freedom of our entire Europe!" – said @ZelenskyyUa during his surprise visit to Poland.
— Poland-24.com (@poland24com) September 24, 2023
The President of Ukraine honored two remarkable Polish individuals, volunteers named Bianka Zalewska and Damian… https://t.co/dxYm26pFhX
Dispute over Ukrainian grain. Controversy over Zelensky’s remarks
In recent times, Volodymyr Zelensky has paid visits to the United States and Canada. These overseas meetings of the Ukrainian leader coincided with a cooling of relationships between Kyiv and Warsaw. Mid-September saw Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary extending the embargo on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products. In response, Kyiv authorities filed an official complaint with the World Trade Organization.
The conflict escalated when, during a speech in the US, Volodymyr Zelensky stated, “It’s disturbing how some of our European friends play at political theater, turning grain into a thriller. It may seem like they’re playing their own part, but in fact, they’re setting the stage for the Moscow actor”.
The Ukrainian President’s statement ignited a wave of commentary and caused some controversy. President Andrzej Duda of Poland addressed it on Polish news channel Polsat News, among others. “Of course, there is a certain dispute transitioning into a legal one between Poland and Ukraine over the grain issue. This also stemmed from the fact that incomplete information has been shared in the public space for quite some time,” he said.
The president conveyed that he received Zelensky’s words “with great regret”. “I don’t hide it, there is a certain disappointment in my heart. I understand all those who are bitterly disappointed very well. Indeed, there are few such countries in the world that have helped Ukraine and Ukrainians as much as we have in recent times”, he highlighted.
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