Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has decided to renounce Poland’s highest state award, the Order of the White Eagle, in response to Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s decision regarding the award previously granted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Axar.az reports that Poroshenko announced his decision in a Facebook post, saying that the Order of the White Eagle was awarded not only to state leaders but also to Ukrainians and Ukrainian soldiers defending Ukraine, Poland, and Europe.

Poroshenko criticized Nawrocki’s decision as “wrong and unfair” toward Ukraine, but stressed that his move was not directed against the Polish people. He said his gratitude toward Poland for supporting Ukraine remained unchanged and called for preserving the strategic partnership between the two countries.

It should be noted that earlier, former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma also renounced the same award.