Full History Of Poland–Ukraine relations In Timeline From 1918

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1918: Polish-Ukrainian War and Alliance

In 1918, the Polish–Ukrainian War and the Polish–Ukrainian alliance occurred in the aftermath of World War I.

1919: Resolution Drafted for Memorial Day of Victims

In response to Poland's resolution, in July 2016 Ukrainian MP Oleksii Musii drafted a resolution declaring March 24 "Memorial Day of the Victims of Polish state genocide against Ukrainians in 1919–1951".

1920: Polish-Ukrainian War and Alliance

In 1920, the Polish–Ukrainian War and the Polish–Ukrainian alliance occurred in the aftermath of World War I.

1943: Ukraine Forbids Exhumation of Polish Victims

In April 2017, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance forbade the exhumation of Polish victims of the 1943 genocide of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, as retaliation for the dismantling of a monument to UPA soldiers in Hruszowice, Poland.

1944: Population Exchange Begins

In 1944, the population exchange between Poland and Soviet Ukraine began, profoundly affecting the demographics of the regions along the Polish-Ukrainian border.

1946: Population Exchange Continues

The population exchange between Poland and Soviet Ukraine continued in 1946, further altering the demographics of the border regions.

1947: Operation Vistula

In 1947, Operation Vistula took place in the aftermath of World War II, impacting the demographics of the regions along the Polish-Ukrainian border.

1951: Resolution Drafted for Memorial Day of Victims

In response to Poland's resolution, in July 2016 Ukrainian MP Oleksii Musii drafted a resolution declaring March 24 "Memorial Day of the Victims of Polish state genocide against Ukrainians in 1919–1951".

1985: Schengen Agreement Acceptance

In 1985, Poland's acceptance of the Schengen Agreement led to complications regarding Ukrainian border traffic.

September 1989: Polish Parliamentarians in Kyiv

In September 1989, Polish parliamentarians visited Kyiv for the People's Movement of Ukraine's congress, supporting Ukrainian national democratic forces and laying the groundwork for new Polish-Ukrainian relations.

July 16, 1990: Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine

On July 16, 1990, Ukraine's Declaration of State Sovereignty took place.

July 27, 1990: Polish Senate on Ukraine's Sovereignty

On July 27, 1990, the Polish Senate acknowledged Ukraine's Declaration of State Sovereignty, expressing a desire for close cooperation.

August 3, 1990: Poland Condemns Vistula Action

On August 3, 1990, the Senate of the Republic of Poland condemned the Vistula action, providing a political and moral assessment of the events and seeking to compensate for the resulting grievances.

October 13, 1990: Declaration on Polish-Ukrainian Relations

On October 13, 1990, Poland and Ukraine agreed to the "Declaration on the foundations and general directions in the development of Polish–Ukrainian relations".

August 24, 1991: Ukraine Declares Independence

On August 24, 1991, Ukraine declared independence following the failed Soviet coup attempt.

December 2, 1991: Poland Recognizes Ukraine's Independence

On December 2, 1991, Poland became the first foreign country to recognize Ukraine's state independence, a day after the referendum.

1991: Ukraine Gained Independence

In 1991, Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union, marking a pivotal moment in the history of Poland–Ukraine relations. Poland was the first country to recognize Ukraine's independence.

January 8, 1992: Establishment of Diplomatic Relations

On January 8, 1992, diplomatic relations were established between Poland and Ukraine.

1992: President Kravchuk's Visit to Poland

In 1992, President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk made his first official visit to Poland, where an interstate Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendly Relations and Cooperation was signed.

1993: President Wałęsa's Visit to Ukraine

In 1993, President of Poland Lech Wałęsa paid an official visit to Ukraine, resulting in the establishment of the Advisory Committee of the Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland. In February of the same year, an agreement on military cooperation was also signed.

March 1994: Declaration of Ministers of Foreign Affairs

In March 1994, the Declaration of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Poland on the Principles of Ukrainian-Polish Partnership was signed, declaring the strategic importance of Ukrainian-Polish relations.

June 1996: Agreement on Cultural Property Protection

In June 1996, Ukraine and Poland established an agreement for cooperation concerning the protection and return of cultural property lost and illegally displaced during World War II, creating an Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Polish Commission.

1996: President Kuchma's Visit to Warsaw

In 1996, Leonid Kuchma visited Warsaw. Later on, Ukrainian–Polish relations reached the level of a strategic partnership.

1996: Poland Supports Ukraine's Integration

In 1996, Poland agreed to assist Ukraine in integrating into Western European organizations, primarily NATO and the EU.

1997: President Kwaśniewski's Visit to Kyiv

In 1997, Aleksander Kwaśniewski visited Kyiv, solidifying strategic partnership.

March 5, 1998: Geremek on Ukraine's Strategic Importance

On March 5, 1998, B. Geremek stated that "independent Ukraine is of key strategic importance both for Poland and its security, and for stability in the entire region. Maintaining privileged relations with Ukraine contributes to strengthening European security."

1998: Joint Actions to Avoid EU Enlargement Consequences

In 1998, during the visit of Minister Bronisław Geremek to Ukraine on September 15–16, the parties agreed to intensify joint actions in order to avoid possible negative consequences of EU enlargement.

March 1999: Ukrainian-Polish Conference on European Integration

At the end of March 1999, the first meeting of the Ukrainian-Polish Conference on European Integration took place in Warsaw.

2003: Schengen Agreement Created Border Problems

In 2003, Poland's acceptance of the 1985 Schengen Agreement created problems with Ukrainian border traffic.

2004: Poland Supports Orange Revolution

In 2004, Poland strongly supported the peaceful and democratic resolution of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and backed NATO-Ukraine cooperation and Ukraine's EU efforts.

April 2005: Year of Ukraine Inaugurated

In April 2005, the Year of Ukraine was inaugurated in Warsaw with President Viktor Yushchenko's participation, marking strengthened relations and cooperation.

2007: Poland's Entry into the Schengen Area

From the end of 2007, Poland's entry into the Schengen Area created new procedures and rules for crossing the Ukrainian-Polish border, causing difficulties for cooperation between the two states.

March 2008: Poland Supports Union for the Mediterranean

In March 2008, at the European Council, Poland supported the proposal to create a Union for the Mediterranean, anticipating EU support for separating the eastern direction of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

May 7, 2008: Poland's Foreign Policy Declaration

On May 7, 2008, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, in a Sejm address, outlined Poland's foreign policy for 2008, emphasizing the nation's focus on developing a common foreign policy towards the East and specializing in strengthening the eastern vector of EU policy.

May 23, 2008: Polish-Swedish Proposal "Eastern Partnership"

On May 23, 2008, Poland and Sweden jointly proposed the "Eastern Partnership" initiative.

May 26, 2008: "Eastern Partnership" approved at EU meeting

On May 26, 2008, the joint Polish-Swedish proposal "Eastern Partnership" was presented, approved at the meeting of the EU General Policy Council and the Council on Foreign Relations in Brussels and has become the flagship initiative of the entire EU.

2008: Joint Research Projects

As of 2008, the joint Ukrainian–Polish cooperation program in the field of science and technology included more than 150 joint research projects.

2008: Allegation of Putin's Proposal to Divide Ukraine

In 2008, according to Poland's ex-foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly proposed to then Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk the division of Ukraine between Poland and Russia.

July 1, 2009: Local Border Traffic Agreement

On July 1, 2009, an agreement on local border traffic between Poland and Ukraine came into effect, allowing Ukrainian citizens in border regions to cross the Polish frontier more easily.

2009: Ukraine Joins Eastern Partnership

In 2009, Ukraine became a member of the Eastern Partnership, a European Union project initiated by Poland to discuss trade, economic strategy, and travel agreements between the EU and its Eastern European neighbors.

2012: Poland and Ukraine Host UEFA Euro 2012

In 2012, Poland and Ukraine co-hosted the UEFA Euro 2012 football tournament.

2014: Poland's Support During Euromaidan and Crimean Annexation

In 2014, Poland actively supported Ukraine during the Euromaidan and the annexation of Crimea by Russia, advocating for Ukraine within the European Union and supporting sanctions against Russia. Poland also declared it would never recognize the annexation. Poland took in a large number of Ukrainian refugees.

2015: Criticism of Ukrainian Memory Laws

In 2015, the Ukrainian decommunization laws, which honored the UPA and related organizations, faced criticism in Poland due to historical controversies.

2015: Tensions Arise Over WWII Interpretations

Since 2015, differing interpretations of events during World War II involving Poles and Ukrainians have led to increased tensions between the two nations.

July 2016: Polish Sejm Declares National Day of Remembrance

In July 2016, the Polish Sejm passed a resolution making July 11 a National Day of Remembrance of Victims of Genocide, commemorating over 100,000 Polish citizens killed during a coordinated attack by the UPA in Volhynia.

2016: Postponement of "Volhynia" Screening

In 2016, a special screening of the Polish film "Volhynia" by the Polish Institute in Kyiv for Ukrainian MPs was postponed due to concerns that it may disrupt public order, based on recommendations from the Ukrainian foreign ministry.

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April 2017: Ukraine Forbids Exhumation of Polish Victims

In April 2017, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance forbade the exhumation of Polish victims of the 1943 genocide of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, as retaliation for the dismantling of a monument to UPA soldiers in Hruszowice, Poland.

2018: Polish Act on the Institute of National Remembrance

In 2018, Article 2a of the Polish Act on the Institute of National Remembrance, discussing the "crimes of Ukrainian nationalists and members of Ukrainian organizations collaborating with the Third German Reich", sparked criticism from Ukraine, where it was dubbed the "Anti-Banderovite Law".

August 2019: Zelenskyy Promises to Lift Moratorium on Exhumations

In August 2019, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged to lift the moratorium on exhuming Polish mass graves in Ukraine. This followed a ban by the previous Ukrainian government on Polish exhumations of victims of the UPA-perpetrated Volhynian genocide.

July 2020: Creation of the "Lublin Triangle"

On 28 July 2020, Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania established the "Lublin Triangle", a new international collaboration format, signed in Lublin, Poland, by the Foreign Ministers of the three countries.

August 2021: Poland Provides COVID-19 Aid to Ukraine

In August 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Poland provided Ukraine with 650,000 COVID-19 vaccines and over 129 tons of medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and protective equipment.

December 2021: Poland Donates Additional COVID-19 Vaccines

In December 2021, Poland donated an additional 300,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine, continuing its support during the pandemic.

January 2022: Poland Announces Weapon Supplies to Ukraine

On 31 January 2022, Poland announced its decision to supply Ukraine with weapons, ammunition, and humanitarian aid due to the threat of a Russian invasion.

February 2022: Declaration of Solidarity and Support for Ukraine

On 23 February 2022, Polish President Andrzej Duda, along with the President of Lithuania, visited Kyiv and jointly declared solidarity and support for Ukraine, calling for international sanctions against Russia in response to escalating tensions.

May 2022: Poland Becomes Second Largest Weapon Supplier to Ukraine

During the war in 2022, Poland became the second-largest weapons supplier to Ukraine, with the total value of weapons exceeding $1.6 billion as of 24 May 2022. The weapons included missiles, grenade launchers, rifles, drones, tanks, RPGs and ammunition.

June 2022: First Bilateral Intergovernmental Consultations

On 1 June 2022, the first bilateral intergovernmental consultations between Poland and Ukraine took place in Kyiv.

2022: Duda Claims Ukraine Tried to Drag Poland into War

In 2025, former Polish President Andrzej Duda claimed that Ukraine attempted to involve Poland in the war, alleging that Zelenskyy requested he acknowledge a Russian missile as the cause of the 2022 explosion.

September 2023: Poland Halts Weapon Supplies Amid Grain Dispute

On 20 September 2023, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced Poland would not supply weapons to Ukraine beyond existing agreements, due to tensions over the Polish import ban on Ukrainian grain. Morawiecki also warned President Zelensky after Zelensky accused Poland of making a 'political theater' out of grain issue.

November 2023: Polish Transporters Block Border Crossings

On 6 November 2023, Polish transport companies blocked three major Poland–Ukraine border crossings to protest alleged unfair competition from Ukrainian transport companies operating under a temporary EU agreement.

February 2024: Blockade Expands and Farmers Protest

By February 2024, the blockade of the Poland-Ukraine border had expanded to all major crossings, including railways, and protestors had spilled grain from train transports. On 27 February 2024, about 10,000 farmers marched in Warsaw demanding a ban on food imports from Ukraine.

April 2024: Poland Offers to Repatriate Ukrainian Men

In April 2024, the Polish government offered to repatriate Ukrainian men of military age living in Poland to Ukraine to be drafted into the Ukrainian army. There are an estimated 300,000–400,000 Ukrainian men living in Poland.

2025: Duda Claims Ukraine Tried to Drag Poland into War

In 2025, former Polish President Andrzej Duda claimed that Ukraine attempted to involve Poland in the war, alleging that Zelenskyy requested he acknowledge a Russian missile as the cause of the 2022 explosion.