The adoption of the law on the Institute of National Remembrance in Poland, which bans "Bandera ideology," is harmful to Poland itself and plays into the hands of the Kremlin, Bloc of Petro Poroshenko MP, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Volodymyr Ariev has said.

"I have an impression that politicians in general in Europe have forgotten about historical lessons. Everybody knows how the confrontation between Ukraine and Poland ended, and how it was used by Muscovy, and it ended badly for Ukraine and Poland. The same can be said of European politicians who are currently pursuing a strategy to pacify the Russian aggressor, forgetting about how it ended before World War II. Our politicians, often in intestine strife, also forget about the lessons of the UPR from a hundred years ago," Ariev said live on the Priamy television channel on Thursday, February 1.

According to him, if Ukraine is drawn into enmity in connection with this law, it will be against the interests of Ukraine and Poland.

"If the Polish side acts against its own interests and does everything to get a standing ovation in the Kremlin, then Ukraine should have a calm and balanced reaction. It is necessary to hold consultations at the level of presidents and, then, perhaps, as a last chance, the Polish president will understand that these things are contrary to the interests of Poland itself," Ariev added.

As reported, the Senate of Poland adopted early on February 1 without any amendments the law on the Institute of National Remembrance, which foresees, in particular, punishment for "crimes of Ukrainian nationalists."

The bill was supported by 57 senators, mainly from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) Party, 23 voted against the document, and two abstained. Amendments to the law envisage fines or imprisonment for up to three years for "sharing responsibility before the Polish people or the state, including for crimes committed by the Third Reich."

In addition, the document envisages punishment for denial of the "Volyn massacre" and the use of the expression "Polish death camps" in relation to the camps that were located in Poland during the Second World War. The law will enter into force after signing by Polish President Andrzej Duda.

On February 1, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andriy Paruby instructed the parliament's committee on foreign affairs to consider the situation with the adoption of the law on the Institute of National Remembrance in Poland.