On Wednesday April 5, Polish President, Andrzej Duda awarded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the Order of the White Eagle during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw, for his services to security, resilience and the defense of human rights.
The Order of the White Eagle is ‘the oldest and highest Polish award,’ and is presented to ‘outstanding individuals,’ Duda said in the presence of Zelensky and the two countries’ first ladies.
‘He is a unique man. You, Volodymyr, are unique. Having received the mandate from your people, you suddenly were called to a unique mission that nobody could have foreseen,’ Duda said.
‘It is hard to hide the tears of emotion seeing your service to your motherland. You have not abandoned either Ukraine or your compatriots.
‘None of us a year ago, after the Russian invasion, could have known what would happen to Ukraine and what would happen personally to you.
‘Undoubtedly, we know that your position, together with the stance of the heroic Ukrainian people … will save Ukraine from the Russian aggression,’ Duda added, calling Zelensky ‘a man of outstanding qualities.’
Zelenskyy thanked Duda, the government and the Polish people for standing ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Ukraine and giving fleeing Ukrainians shelter.
‘We believe this is a historic relationship,’ Zelensky said.
Zelensky and wife, Olena Zelenska, are in Poland for what is being billed as the most comprehensive state visit the Ukrainian president has undertaken since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
