NATIONAL MEMORY AS AN INDACATOR OF THE STABILITY OF THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UKRAINE AND POLAND

Abstract

This article is aimed at a comprehensive analysis of the Ukrainian-Polish strategic partnership in the context of national memory and its impact on bilateral relations in the current geopolitical reality. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the russian federation on February 24, 2022, became a key challenge for European security, highlighting the need for new forms of cooperation. Ukraine found itself on the front line of defending democracy, while Poland, as a major logistical and military hub, became a key partner in ensuring regional stability. At the same time, Ukrainian-Polish relations remain complex due to shared historical memory. The article analyzes in detail the role of national memory in shaping the contemporary politics of both countries, paying particular attention to interpretations of the Volhynia tragedy of 1943–1944 and its political instrumentalization. Polish and Ukrainian historical narratives differ significantly. These differences create the risk of tension even in the face of a common threat and a high level of cooperation.  The article also highlights contemporary institutional and regional formats of cooperation, including the Security Cooperation Agreement (2024), the Three Seas Initiative, and the formation of a trilateral alliance with the United Kingdom in the context of the broader European security architecture. The key conclusion of the article is that the long-term sustainability of the Ukrainian-Polish alliance depends not on attempts to create a single historical narrative, but on the ability of the political elites and citizens of both countries to develop mechanisms for managing historical conflicts.