W. Rogers and you can President and you may Chief executive officer Frederick Kempe journeyed in order to Kyiv, Ukraine, to present President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the Around the world Citizen Prize. If you’re meeting with Ukrainian Closet people, the Atlantic Council staff educated Zelenskyy’s management firsthand and you can experienced the he will continue to create for those off Ukraine.

Our company is coping with top age of suspicion and you can unrest much more than simply two decades, motivated during the a serious means of the international reverberations in the Russian conflict

Our company is very happy to award your this evening and salute his ongoing commitment to protecting a separate and you can democratic country.

JOHN F. W. ROGERS: Women’s and you can men, it’s my higher award in order to officially admit Ukrainian Chairman Zelenskyy for his fortitude and leadership, to possess his state’s brave fight against authoritarian hostility, to own their unyielding coverage of your sanctity as well as the solidarity to possess democracies every-where. The brand new bravery and care for shown of the Ukraine’s soldiers and you can customers the same has been little short of a desire to everyone.

It is something I’ve saw personal. I had this new right to meet up with toward president along with his people for the one or two separate instances comprising the countless months in the combat. It had been essential that people went and you will signaled to help you Russia and you will almost every other places we is actually purchased a totally free and separate Ukraine. As well as on such travels, we’d a chance to engage of several officials and you can management to talk about the problem on the ground and its effects internationally.

However, considering the dangers regarding the house and the air, new airport is closed. Very, therefore, weeks following battle began We went by train throughout the Shine edging in order to Kyiv. And also for the first-time given that slip of Soviet Connection, I became around. The fresh screen of one’s teach were taped to quit shattered glass in case there is a surge. As well as on that show, I spotted of several Ukrainian female and children who had fled however, they were back to see husbands and you can dads and you may brothers.

Our company is recognized to keep the dedication to Ukraine’s future, building with the past year’s Well-known Leadership Prize to people regarding Ukraine even as we prize Chairman Zelenskyy this evening

We common a storage space having children, an effective Ukrainian woman and her around three-year-dated son and her mommy. Plus they have been desperate to return the brand new boys-towards boy’s dad, who’d merely obtained a short while regarding get off out-of fighting toward frontlines.

In addition satisfied an older pair, Ludmila and you may Viktor. These were checking out its more youthful child in the Poland, who they had maybe not viewed as the combat were only available in February. They on their own would not log off the populær brasiliansk dating-app country. They told you: When the my personal president remains, We remain.

In addition met an early on lady who was simply returning back again to their home town observe their particular merely sis. He previously been recently titled to serve regarding the army. She are filled with tears, concerned with her aunt-not throughout the her very own shelter, no more than their sister.

Now, this type of and other tearful discussions lay brand new build on the rest out-of my personal journey. So that as We stayed there thinking about the coming, I became in hopes about what I noticed on these people’s eyes-promise and you can bravery and you can give up.

The human side plus the cost in the battle are seized on these relaxed specifics. While we navigate owing to, it is a lot more crucial that we learn the individuals times, where it could direct, and every in our roles within it.

At the such as for example an overwhelming date, there is absolutely no finest exemplory case of best leader at the right time rising in order to satisfy the moment than simply President Zelenskyy and you may his unwavering care for. He’s got acquired new trust together with hearts of nearly every Ukrainian and far worldwide, getting a master classification into the interaction and you may advocacy to have a modern-day country lower than primeval siege. Even as we expose your with this honor and you can award his bravery, we understand he allows such honors with respect to and on the advantageous asset of his some one and his country.