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Zelenskyy Receives International Prize 04/16 06:10
MIDDELBURG, Netherlands (AP) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was
awarded the prestigious International Four Freedoms Award at a ceremony
Thursday for his and his nation's courage and resilience in resisting the
full-scale invasion launched more than four years ago by Russia.
The honor was bestowed by the Roosevelt Foundation that 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 to the steadfast and resolute
leadership of their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy," Hugo de Jonge, chair of
the foundation, said Thursday.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten paid tribute to Zelenskyy 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."
After receiving a standing ovation, Zelenskyy asked for a moment of silence
for the victims of a deadly overnight barrage by Russia that killed at least 16
people and wounded many more.
"Dozens of people have been injured and, sadly, so sadly, there are also
lives lost in Odesa, Kyiv, Dnipro. Just ordinary people, children, civilians,
killed by Russian madness," he said, as he called for those responsible for war
crimes in Ukraine to be held accountable under international law.
"Do not let Russia go unpunished," he said.
Previous winners of the international award include Nelson Mandela, the
Dalai Lama, Germany's former Chancellor Angela Merkel, and organizations
including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
French rape survivor Gisle Pelicot was receiving the Freedom from Fear
Award; the Committee to Protect Journalists received the Freedom of Speech
Award; Isidora Uribe Silva from Chile, who has 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 announced publicly by the
foundation, citing security concerns.
After the ceremony, Zelenskyy was meeting with Jetten. The Netherlands has
been a strong supporter of Ukraine since the Russian invasion, including
providing Patriot missiles and fighter jets. On Wednesday, Defense Minister
Dilan Yeilgz-Zegerius announced that the Netherlands was spending 248
million euros ($292 million) on drones for the Ukrainian military.
With no plans announced for further U.S.-mediated talks with Russia,
Zelenskyy had already visited three European capitals in 48 hours this week to
try to secure promises of further military and financial support from Germany
and Norway and Italy. Germany and Ukraine agreed a defense package valued at 4
billion euros ($4.7 billion), and Norway has pledged 9 billion euros in
assistance, Ukrainian officials said.
The Four Freedoms awards are presented in the New Church in Middelburg, in
the province of Zeeland, where Roosevelt's ancestors hail from.
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