Kwaśniewski says legacy of "murdered brothers and sisters" will strain Ukraine-Russia ties for generations

Former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski said the problem of "murdered brothers and sisters" in Ukraine-Russia relations will persist for generations, even after the current war comes to an end.

Speaking on the state of relations between the two countries, Kwaśniewski said he believes reconciliation between Ukrainian and Russian societies will be a long and difficult process, with the human toll of the war remaining one of the most sensitive issues between them for years to come.

Kwaśniewski, who served as Poland's president from 1995 to 2005, has remained an active voice on Central and Eastern European affairs since leaving office, including on matters concerning Poland's neighbors Ukraine and Belarus as well as broader regional security.

A long road to reconciliation

His comments reflect a view shared by many regional analysts that even a formal end to the fighting will not quickly resolve the deep grievances created by the war, including the deaths of civilians and soldiers on both sides.

Kwaśniewski did not lay out a specific roadmap for reconciliation in his remarks, framing the issue instead as a generational challenge that will outlast the current conflict and require sustained effort from both societies.