Have relations between Ukraine and Poland become strained? Kyiv has changed the airport used for Zelenskyy’s overseas visits

Tensions with Warsaw have forced the Ukrainian president to abandon the Polish airport in Rzeszów in favour of Chisinau for his flight to London. The reason for this sudden change in travel arrangements was a heated historical dispute over the UPA. Find out how the parties are resolving this conflict and where to buy flight tickets whilst airspace is closed

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has unexpectedly changed his usual travel itinerary. Setting off on an official visit to the UK, the Ukrainian leader used the airport in the Moldovan capital, although Poland had previously always been the main departure point for government aircraft. The change of route came against the backdrop of a new diplomatic row between Kyiv and Warsaw.

Why did Zelenskyy fly via Chișinău rather than Rzeszów

According to data from the specialist flight tracking service FlightAware, on the morning of 7 June, the presidential aircraft arrived in Chișinău from Rzeszów in Poland. From there, the aircraft carrying the Ukrainian leader flew to one of London’s airports.

In previous years, it was the Polish airport of Rzeszów-Jasenka that served as the main overseas base for Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane. Traditionally, virtually all international visits by both the president himself and other official Ukrainian delegations began and ended there.

The official reasons for abandoning the usual hub have not yet been disclosed, but it is clear that this coincided with the recent diplomatic cooling of bilateral relations.

Incidentally, whilst the airspace over Ukraine remains closed, neighbouring countries serve as the main transit hubs not only for official delegations but also for every Ukrainian. Book flights from the airports closest to Ukraine — Chisinau, Rzeszów, Warsaw, Suceava and other cities — quickly and securely via the Visit Ukraine portal. Choose convenient routes, compare prices and travel stress-free with a reliable booking service.

Conflict over the UPA: the crux of Poland’s claims against Ukraine

The latest round of tensions between the countries began on 26 May. On that day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree conferring an honorary name in honour of the Heroes of the UPA upon the ‘Pivden’ Special Operations Centre of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This decision provoked a sharp reaction in Warsaw. Polish President Karol Nawrocki proposed stripping Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the country’s highest state honour — the Order of the White Eagle. The Ukrainian leader received this award in April 2023 from Nawrocki’s predecessor, Andrzej Duda.

Commenting on the current situation, Andrzej Duda himself emphasised that the order had been awarded “at a different time and under different circumstances”.

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Poland-Ukraine talks: how the scandal is being resolved

Kyiv is already making attempts to ease diplomatic tensions. On 5 June, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, arrived in Poland on a working visit.

In Warsaw, he held a meeting with the State Secretary of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marcin Bosacki.

The parties discussed in detail the high-profile issue of the Special Operations Forces unit being given a name that is controversial for the Polish side. It is reported that the Ukrainian delegation has already put forward its proposals for resolving the situation, though the final outcome of the talks has not yet been disclosed.

Reminder! News that Poland had closed its airspace to aircraft has alarmed many tourists. People are widely concerned about flight cancellations and the disruption of long-awaited trips. In reality, there is no cause for panic, and international flights are operating as normal. Find out exactly what has changed.

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