Historian Zbigniew Gluza Discusses Challenges and Opportunities in Ukrainian-Polish Relations

Wed, 06 May 2026 21:50:00 +0200

Historian Zbigniew Gluza, a prominent Polish expert on Eastern European history, offers a nuanced perspective on Ukrainian-Polish relations, examining historical tensions and the possibilities for reconciliation. In an interview with Bird in Flight, Gluza highlights that despite shared struggles against the USSR, mutual understanding between Poland and Ukraine has been limited. He criticizes how historical narratives are handled by national memory institutes in both countries, stressing that misunderstandings and lack of dialogue have perpetuated conflicts. Gluza emphasizes the importance of reviewing a broader historical context, including events from the early 20th century, rather than focusing solely on World War II atrocities like the Volyn tragedy. He advocates for acknowledging all victims as shared, moving beyond cycles of mutual blame. Gluza also points to historical figures, such as Józef Piłsudski, who envisioned partnership between nations, contrasting this with the national