Receiving Charlemagne Prize in Germany, President Zelensky: Ukraine will Make Europe Stronger

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky received the prestigious Charlemagne Prize on behalf of the Ukrainian people on Sunday, to honor his services to Europe, concluding a visit to Germany where he received new military aid and support from Berlin.

President Zelensky flew to the city of Aachen in western Germany with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after talks in the German capital.

He received a standing ovation at a ceremony in the Coronation hall of Aachen City Hall, where he was presented with the award, which celebrates services to European unification.

"Ukraine will always make Europe stronger," President Zelensky said in English, before switching to Ukrainian to address an audience that included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

"Ukraine proposes a victory not only in this war but a victory over aggression, annexation, deportation over the catastrophic genocide, anywhere in the world," he continued.

Speaking at the same event, Chancellor Scholz emphasized Germany's support for Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union, although he had previously ruled out questions about Kyiv's swift accession to the NATO military alliance.

"Vladimir Putin might have thought that he could force the Ukrainian state off its path to Europe through violence. But all his tanks, drones and rocket launchers had exactly the opposite effect," said Chancellor Scholz.

The German government announced a new 2.7 billion euro ($3 billion) military aid package on Saturday, the country's largest aid package since the Russian invasion.

Aachen was the residence of Emperor Charlemagne, often referred to as the "Father of Europe", who successfully unified much of Western Europe in the early 9th century.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian people under the leadership of President Zelensky, are fighting not only for their country "but also for Europe and European values", the prize committee said in a statement.

The award underlined the committee's belief that Ukraine deserved "to enter into accession negotiations with the European Union immediately".

Before President Zelensky, a number of names had received the Charlemagne Prize, including French President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.