Ursula von der Leyen Receives First-Ever Order of Europe from President Zelenskyy.

A Historic Award Ceremony

According to UATV: During Ukraine's Statehood Day celebrations on July 15, 2023, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with the inaugural Order of Europe. The ceremony took place during von der Leyen's visit to Kyiv, where she met with the Ukrainian leader.

Also in attendance were:

• the presidents of Romania,
• Moldova, and Serbia,
• along with Croatia's prime minister.

This gathering highlighted the growing cooperation between Ukraine and its regional neighbors. In his remarks, Zelenskyy praised von der Leyen's steadfast support for Ukraine, stating:

“I want to thank you, Ursula, for always believing in us. Thank you! Thank you for walking this path together with us: the application, candidate status, accession negotiations, and the opening of two clusters already.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian president further emphasized that 'Ukraine is not alone on this difficult journey. We deeply value everyone who helps us along the way, and we will always remember their contribution to our shared future.' Zelenskyy expressed that it was a great honor to present von der Leyen with Ukraine's first Order of Europe:

“It is a great honor for me to present Ursula with the first Ukrainian Order of Europe here today.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Significance of the Event

The award was part of the Ukraine-Southeastern Europe Summit, underscoring Ukraine's ambition to deepen its integration with European institutions and strengthen ties with neighboring countries. This event took place against the backdrop of Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia and its push for EU membership.

Bestowing the Order of Europe on Ursula von der Leyen served as a symbolic recognition of her contributions to supporting Ukraine on the global stage and her efforts in advancing the country's European integration process. The ceremony highlighted the critical importance of international cooperation amid the current regional challenges. It also demonstrated Ukraine's readiness to embed itself within European structures and solidify its relationships with neighboring states—a vital step for the nation's future development.