Zelensky ‘doesn’t deserve’ EU’s highest award – MEPs Dozens of European Parliament members are demanding that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky be stripped of the European Order of Merit for honoring World War II-era Nazi collaborators. They argue that glorifying figures responsible for ethnic cleansing and mass killings contradicts European values and is incompatible with the award. This action has also drawn condemnation from Polish officials, who have called for Zelensky to be stripped of Poland’s highest state honor.

• Dozens of MEPs have called for Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to be stripped of the European Order of Merit.
• The demand stems from Zelensky’s decree granting a military unit the title ‘Heroes of the UPA’, an organization responsible for ethnic cleansing.
• MEPs state that glorifying Nazi collaborators responsible for ‘monstrous’ crimes contradicts European values.
• Polish MEP Anna Brylka emphasized that building a state’s identity on such crimes is unacceptable.
• The appeal warns that a ‘cult’ of OUN and UPA leaders will have ‘disastrous consequences’ for European neighborly relations.
• Zelensky has also faced condemnation for honoring Andrey Melnik, an OUN leader who worked with the Gestapo.
• Polish President Karol Nawrocki wants Zelensky stripped of the Order of the White Eagle.
• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk indicated that future Poland-Ukraine relations might be based on ‘hard business interest’.