The announcement was made following a meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday between Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, who jointly affirmed their nations' commitment to reconciliation and cooperation.
Sikorski highlighted the significance of Ukraine’s decision to lift a moratorium, in place since 2017, which had prohibited such efforts.
The moratorium stemmed from a historical dispute between the countries over the destruction of a monument commemorating the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in Poland.
The UPA is a controversial group in Polish-Ukrainian history, revered by some in Ukraine for its anti-Soviet resistance but condemned in Poland for its role in the Volhynia Massacres, where tens of thousands of Poles were killed during World War II by members of the UPA, along with members of other minorities such as Czechs, Armenians and Jews.
'Exhumations could begin as early as spring 2025': Polish FM
"This is a breakthrough decision," said Sikorski. “Ukraine has confirmed there are no obstacles for Polish institutions to conduct these works in collaboration with Ukrainian authorities, in line with Ukrainian law. Exhumations could begin as early as spring 2025.”
The agreement is particularly important in the context of Poland’s ongoing support for Ukraine amid its war with Russia.
Sikorski reiterated Poland's stance that Ukraine must regain its internationally recognized borders and emphasized that any resolution to the conflict must be approved by Ukraine.
He also announced that Poland would use its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2025 to advance Ukraine's European Union accession.
Poland tops list for Ukraine aid relative to GDP: Kyiv's FM
Sybiha, for his part, praised Poland for its robust military, economic and humanitarian aid, noting that Poland has contributed more to Ukraine in proportion to its GDP than any other country.
He also called for increased military support and tougher sanctions on Russia, including measures targeting the so-called “shadow fleet” used to circumvent existing sanctions.
The issue of exhumations has been a longstanding sore point in Polish-Ukrainian relations.
Poland has sought to recover the remains of victims of the Volhynia Massacres and other atrocities committed during World War II.
Historical tensions persist over differing narratives surrounding these events, with Poland viewing them as genocide, while Ukraine has emphasized the broader context of wartime conflicts and Soviet oppression.
Nationalist sentiments in Ukraine had been fomented by Soviet authorities since 1917, as an active "divide and rule" measure.
Both ministers expressed hope that the agreement would help bridge historical divides.
Sybiha said: “Every family has the right to honor their ancestors with dignity.”
He also stressed the importance of working through a joint Polish-Ukrainian task force to facilitate these efforts, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
FMs discuss Ukraine’s EU, NATO aspirations
In addition to exhumations, discussions focused on Ukraine’s EU and NATO aspirations.
Sybiha described EU membership as vital for Ukraine’s future and called for an invitation to NATO to ensure long-term European security.
He also encouraged Polish businesses to take an active role in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and expressed gratitude for Poland’s role as a hub for international aid.
The meeting in Warsaw symbolized a deepening partnership between the two countries, with both ministers stressing that their collaboration was critical not only for their nations’ security and development but for the stability of Europe as a whole, the PAP news agency reported.
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Source: IAR, PAP
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.