For Our Freedom and Yours: PEN Ukraine’s statement on Polish-Ukrainian relations

We are following the current escalation in the dialogue between Poland and Ukraine with deep anguish.

Together with our dear Polish friends, partners and colleagues, we are observing hostile gestures of some of the Polish politicians and private citizens. The avalanche of xenophobia that they fuel risks swiping off our common achievements and our ancestors’ legacy. We have no other option but to confront it and to come out victorious in this struggle for our freedom and yours.

We would like to express our strong disagreement with the attempts to dismiss the contribution of the Defense Forces of Ukraine and of the entire Ukrainian nation to the European security, which is how the statements and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric from some of the Polish politicians can be perceived. We condemn every form of hate speech and disregard for the sovereignty of the Other.

We express our respect for the thousands of Poles whose hearts beat in unison with Ukraine, and we appreciate the words of solidarity from our friends in the Polish PEN on 15 June, as well as from many other Polish voices.

Our unremitting gratitude goes to Polish volunteers who have stood by Ukraine ever since 2014. A special place of honour belongs to the Poles, be it Ukrainian or Polish citizens, who have taken up arms to defend Ukraine. Having understood that our destinies were intertwined, and that Russian aggression posed a threat to the entire world, they have lent their hand instantly. We are grateful to civic activists, journalists and lawyers who document the evidence of Russia’s international crimes, to statesmen who remain steadfast in their priorities, and to the Polish creative community–translators, scholars and publishers of Ukrainian literature–whose efforts, empathy, and integrity remain a source of inspiration.

The history of our relations is much longer than that of the contemporary democratic Poland and Ukraine. The totalitarian era has left lasting scars in the memory of our nations, but the memory about the victims of totalitarian regimes and of mutual hate must not undermine our future.

PEN Ukraine highly appreciates relations with Poland. We believe that reason will triumph in the most insidious trials.

Today, our freedom and yours are as fragile as ever. Our independence depends directly on our common efforts. Our common historical enemy, Russia, has neither changed nor disappeared: it still seeks to divide Poland and Ukraine, and to roll the wheel of history back for the sake of its imperial phantasma. We, both Poland and Ukraine, must stand up to it militarily, politically, and morally.