Follow live the latest news about the war in Ukraine
Follow live the latest news about the war in Ukraine
AACHEN (GERMANY), 14 May. (DPA/EP) –
The Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski, has collected the Charlemagne Prize this Sunday in the German city of Aachen, a “great honor” that he receives on behalf of all the Ukrainian people and their efforts to stop the Russian military offensive.
Zelensky stressed that he accepts the award “on behalf of all Ukrainians who fight daily for their freedom and for the values of Europe.” “Each one of them would deserve to be here today,” he said.
The Ukrainian president has stressed that his country wants nothing more than peace, but it can only be achieved by winning the current conflict that will also decide “the fate of Europe” because Russia, “capable of any cruelty”, wants to undo history of European unification.
Also present at the ceremony was the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who highlighted Zelenski’s work in defending European values.
“The president is here. We are all here,” Scholz said, paraphrasing Zelenski’s first speech recorded on video after the start of the Russian invasion. “Few times in history have those brief words had such an effect,” said Scholz. With that phrase, Zelensky made it clear that the Ukrainian people “would not bow to Russia’s violence, but would resist,” he mentioned.
“Europe owes a lot to the Ukrainian people and personally to President Volodimir Zelenski. We are together! We will be together! And our history will go on,” he proclaimed.
For Scholz, the awarding of the Charlemagne Prize to Zelensky is the prelude to further growth together within Europe. “If Vladimir Putin believed that he could use force to divert the Ukrainian nation from the path towards Europe, with all its tanks, drones and rocket launchers, he has achieved just the opposite,” Scholz stressed.
“The desire for freedom and resistance in these dark moments are also an inspiration far from Ukraine. As the visible head of the entire Ukrainian people, you are the one who defends the values that are at the heart of Europe,” Scholz concluded, referring to Zelensky.
