Middelburg, Netherlands — President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky He and his country were honored with the prestigious International Four Freedoms Award at a ceremony on Thursday for their courage and resilience in resistance. full scale attack Launched by Russia more than four years ago.
The honor was presented by the Roosevelt Foundation, which was created in 1982 to present awards honoring the four freedoms outlined by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1941 State of the Union address – freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
“We pay the highest tribute to the unwavering courage and enduring perseverance of the Ukrainian people and the firm and steadfast leadership of their President Volodymyr Zelensky,” foundation president Hugo de Jonge said Thursday.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetton paid tribute to Zelensky at the ceremony, saying, “It speaks volumes that you only agreed to accept this award if you could do so on behalf of all the people of Ukraine.”
Previous winners of the international award include nelson mandelaThe Dalai LamaFormer German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and organizations including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
French Rape victim Gisele Pellicote Freedom from fear was rewarding; The Committee to Protect Journalists received the Freedom of Expression Award; Isidora Uribe Silva of Chile, who suffers from cerebral palsy, earned the Freedom from Want Award for her years of campaigning for inclusion, equal human rights and gender equality.
The winner of the Freedom of Worship Award was not publicly announced by the foundation, citing security concerns.
Zelensky was meeting with Jetten after the ceremony. The Netherlands has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since the Russian invasion, including providing Patriot missiles and fighter aircraft. On Wednesday, Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius announced that the Netherlands is spending 248 million euros ($292 million) on drones for the Ukrainian military.
No further plans have been announced US mediated talks Along with Russia, Zelensky visited three European capitals in 48 hours this week to try to secure promises of additional military and financial aid from Germany, Norway and Italy. Ukrainian officials said Germany and Ukraine have agreed to a defense package worth 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion), and Norway has pledged 9 billion euros in aid.
The Four Freedoms awards are presented at the New Church in Middelburg, Zeeland Province, where Roosevelt’s ancestors lived.
