'We understand your pain,' Ukraine tells Poland ahead of WW2 massacre anniversary

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk is seen in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

WARSAW (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament speaker on Thursday offered condolences to the descendants of Poles massacred by Ukrainian nationalists in World War Two, a gesture likely to defuse tensions between the allies ahead of the 80th anniversary of the killings.

Poland has positioned itself as one of Ukraine's staunchest allies since Russia invaded the country in 2022.