The drop on the floor of the case with the medal of Charlemagne, presented to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, was arranged by either Russians or Russians. So the Ukrainian leader joked, interrupting his solemn speech, media reports.
“Russians,” he laconically commented on the situation in English. A massive case with an award slid off a stool near the pulpit from which Zelensky was speaking. The word Russians in English can be understood both as “Russians” and as “Russians“.
“But we are not afraid,” Zelensky added in English after that, “Because we are together.” His words, which ended the speech in Ukrainian, were greeted by the assembled audience with prolonged applause. The hall was attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and others.
The award ceremony for Zelensky was held in Aachen, Germany. During the visit of the Ukrainian president, security measures have been stepped up in the city, blocking traffic in some areas of the city. At the same time, a pro-Ukrainian demonstration took place there, about 1 thousand people came out to it.
In his speech, Zelensky said that all Ukrainian citizens are heroes, and each of them deserves to “stand here and accept this award,” Die Zeit reports. Separately, he once again pointed out the need for Europe to supply new weapons to Kyiv.
First, during his official visit to Germany (the first in Zelensky’s career), he visited Berlin, where he was received by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. In the German capital, security measures have also been strengthened – residents of the vicinity of the Federal Chancellery and the Office of the President of Germany must carry an identity card with them on this day.
The exact program of Zelensky’s official visit to Germany was also not named for security reasons, the NTV channel reported.
From Berlin, he headed to the west of the country, to Aachen – there every year since 1950 the international Charlemagne Prize has been awarded – for his contribution to the unification of Europe. The award is named after the founder of the Frankish Empire Charlemagne – Charlemagne. In addition to certificates and medals, the laureates of the award receive a symbolic sum of 5,000 euros.
After receiving the award, Zelensky said that during his trip to Germany, he visited a military base in Aachen, where military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trained.
“I visited a military base in the city of Aachen, where Ukrainian military personnel are being trained. Together with German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, we talked to Ukrainian soldiers. He also presented state awards to the fighters, ”the Ukrainian president said on social networks.
There were some incidents – the Bild newspaper reported that before flying to Aachen from Berlin, Zelensky forgot his mobile phone and power bank in the cortege’s car.
“After the meeting with Scholz, Zelensky boarded the helicopter. When the doors were already closed and everything was ready to take off, he realized that the cell phone was left in the car, ”the article says. The flight was delayed and they waited while a German policeman ran to the car to bring Zelensky his things.
On the eve of his German voyage, Zelensky visited Italy. There he met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister George Meloni and Pope Francis. From Germany, the Ukrainian president traveled to France, where he meets French leader Emmanuel Macron in Paris.