Ukraine Ready for Dialogue With Poland on Historic Volyn Massacre Issue

Ukraine is ready for a constructive dialogue with Poland regarding the 20th century massacre of Poles by Ukrainian nationalists and believes that in the near future a mutual understanding will be found, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday.

KIEV (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, Poroshenko met with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda to discuss regional issues and cooperation.

"We must honor our history and take steps that contribute to the improvement of relations between our countries… The Ukrainian side is ready for a frank and constructive dialogue on the tragic pages of our common history and believes that this understanding [will be reached] in the near future," Poroshenko said during a joint briefing with Duda.

Duda in turn said that that Warsaw and Kiev were set to pursue the dialogue on contentious issues of common history, while inviting Poroshenko to visit Warsaw in December.

"We will continue the dialogue on this issue and we will try to make the talks even more productive than they are today. You can also rely on our concerted action in this matter, and in December, I think will be able to talk about concrete proposals," the Polish president said.

Poland believes that the Ukrainian Insurgent Army nationalists committed genocide against Polish citizens of the Second Republic of Poland in 1939-1945. The violence culminated on July 11, 1943 — the so-called Volyn Massacre — when some 150 Polish settlements were attacked by the Ukrainians.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated after last month, the Polish parliament adopted a resolution recognizing July 11 as National Remembrance Day of a 1943-45 genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists.