President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was presented with the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honour, in recognition of his contributions to security, strength, and the safeguarding of human rights.
Presenting the Order, Poland’s president Andrzej Duda said: “There is no doubt that you, Volodymyr Zelensky, are exceptional.
“It is hard to hide the tears of emotion seeing your service to your motherland. You have not abandoned either Ukraine or your compatriots. You are a model of state and national leadership,”
Duda said.
“You have not abandoned Ukraine, nor have you abandoned, above all, your compatriots, defenders of the homeland in the most difficult situation you have found yourself in, in all of Ukraine’s history, in the face of aggression that was to destroy your state, that was to destroy your nation as well,”
he added.
“Importantly, it was also supposed to destroy the future of our part of Europe, not only Ukraine, but also the neighbourhood of Ukraine, and therefore also Poland.”
“A year ago, in February 2022, after Russia’s aggression, none of us knew what the fate of Ukraine would be, what your fate would be. We have no doubt that your attitude, combined with the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers, saved Ukraine. We have no doubts that your stance today largely saves Europe from the deluge of Russian imperialism,”
the Polish president stressed.
President Andrzej Duda presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Poland’s highest state honour, the Order of the White Eagle, on Wednesday. The award was given in recognition of Zelensky’s contribution to deepening the relationship between Poland and Ukraine, his dedication to security, and his commitment to upholding human rights.
On Wednesday, Zelensky and his wife Olena arrived in Poland for their first visit to the country as a couple, and Zelensky’s first since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. During the visit, President Duda presented Zelensky with the Order of the White Eagle, the oldest and most prestigious decoration of the Republic of Poland.
President Andrzej Duda of Poland will discuss bilateral relations, security, and the current situation in Ukraine and the region, said Marcin Przydacz, the presidential aide.