Ukraine, Poland establish working group to address historical issues / The New Voice of Ukraine

Ukraine and Poland are working on establishing a joint working group to address contentious historical issues, Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar said on Dec. 2.

The ambassador noted that the group will operate under the auspices of the culture ministries of both Ukraine and Poland.

“We are working on the agenda and want this group to convene as soon as possible,” Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform quoted Bodnar.

He also reported that Ukraine's Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi and Poland's Minister of Culture and National Heritage Hanna Wróblewska will be holding talks soon to determine the venue and date for the group's first meeting.

“They need to start a dialogue on politically sensitive topics: commemorating remembrance sites in Ukraine and Poland and improving relevant procedures,” Bodnar added.

On Nov. 27, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha issued a joint statement in Warsaw regarding the exhumation of victims of the Volhynia tragedy. Ukraine confirmed there are no obstacles to conducting search and exhumation activities on its territory.

Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wroński later suggested that exhumations might begin in spring 2025.