MIDDELBURG, Netherlands — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted a distinguished international honor Thursday, recognizing both his leadership and his country’s bravery in defending against Russia’s full-scale military assault that began over four years ago.
The International Four Freedoms Award was presented by the Roosevelt Foundation, established in 1982 to recognize individuals who exemplify the four fundamental freedoms President Franklin D. Roosevelt described in his 1941 State of the Union speech: 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,” foundation chair Hugo de Jonge stated during Thursday’s ceremony.
Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten praised Zelenskyy at the event, noting, “It speaks volumes that you only agreed to accept this award if you could do so on behalf of all the people of Ukraine.”
Following a standing ovation from attendees, Zelenskyy requested a moment of silence to honor victims of a recent Russian overnight attack that claimed at least 16 lives and injured numerous others.
“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 stated, while demanding international accountability for war crimes committed in Ukraine.
“Do not let Russia go unpunished,” he urged.
The prestigious award has previously been given to notable figures including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and organizations such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Other recipients this year included French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, who received the Freedom from Fear Award, the Committee to Protect Journalists for the Freedom of Speech Award, and Chilean activist Isidora Uribe Silva, who has cerebral palsy and earned the Freedom from Want Award for her advocacy work on inclusion, equal human rights, and gender equality.
The foundation did not publicly identify the Freedom of Worship Award recipient due to security considerations.
Following the ceremony, Zelenskyy scheduled a meeting with Prime Minister Jetten. The Netherlands has provided substantial support to Ukraine throughout the conflict, including Patriot missile systems and fighter aircraft. On Wednesday, Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius announced a 248 million euro ($292 million) investment in drone technology for Ukrainian forces.
With no additional U.S.-facilitated negotiations with Russia currently scheduled, Zelenskyy has spent the week visiting three European capitals within 48 hours, seeking commitments for continued military and financial assistance from Germany, Norway, and Italy. Ukrainian officials report that Germany and Ukraine have agreed to a defense package worth 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion), while Norway has committed 9 billion euros in aid.
The Four Freedoms ceremony takes place annually at the New Church in Middelburg, located in Zeeland province, the ancestral homeland of President Roosevelt’s family.
