At its evening session on 8 August, the Ukrainian parliament adopted a statement in response to the Polish Sejm's resolution recognising the Volyn tragedy as an act of "genocide" of Rzeczpospolita citizens by Ukrainian nationalists.
The statement was backed by 247 MPs.
Ukrainian MPs said they were disappointed with their Polish colleagues' resolution which, in their opinion, jeopardises both countries' political and diplomatic steps towards mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.
Parliament says that by establishing July 11 as the "day of remembrance of the victims of genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists against the citizens of II Rzeczpospolita", Poland is politicising the tragic pages of the Ukrainian-Polish history. Parliament drew Poland's attention to the fact that the anti-Ukrainian actions and incitement of anti-Ukrainian sentiments are happening at a time when Ukraine is most vulnerable and in fact in a state of war with Russia.
Parliament called on the politicians of Ukraine and Poland to leave history to the historians who should have room for the interpretation of historical facts.
"The Ukrainian parliament is suggesting that Polish colleagues stop politicising the tragic pages of the Ukrainian-Polish history and focus its efforts on building a constructive relationship between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland to strengthen partnerships in democratic Europe based on the European values," the statement reads.