Zelenskyy at the Four Freedoms Awards: The fact that countries care gives us a real chance that one day the world will not be a victim of wars
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people received the international Four Freedoms Award.
"Yes, we often hear that international law and the world order are broken. But there still exists a clear majority of countries that recognize that war is not the norm. Killing people is not the norm. And Russia and violence must be stopped. People feel this, truly," Zelenskyy said at the award ceremony on Thursday.
"And the fact that people care, that countries care, that you care, gives us all a real chance. A chance that one day the world will no longer be a victim of wars. That one day the world will have a system – military, political, and legal – strong enough to deter Russia. That one day people will be able to say that finally we no longer have to fear ruins," he emphasized.
The President also asked those present to observe a minute of silence to honor the memory of Ukrainians who died due to Russia.
Zelenskyy noted that Putin knows exactly what he is doing and who he resembles, "and he is quite rightly compared to the Nazis."
"He has the same expansionist ambitions. He wants to decide the fate of nations and whether they have the right to exist at all," Zelenskyy remarked.
He added that at the heart of the war against Ukraine lies a false claim that Ukraine does not exist, that it is allegedly part of Russia.
"And it’s not just about history, not just about politics or ideology. This is the basis of their goal – to completely destroy Ukraine. And not only Ukraine. Russia has openly, repeatedly stated that it wants to control all its neighbors. It wants to decide what security in Europe should be like and whether it should exist at all," Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State called on partners to continue pressure on Russia and to ensure that "Russia is held accountable for this aggression legally and in practice."
"Here in the Netherlands, we are working to create a tribunal regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and I thank you for your help. We are working to ensure the international legal system is firm and uncompromising toward Russian war criminals," he noted.
The award ceremony took place in Middelburg, the Netherlands.
As reported, Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people receive the international Four Freedoms Award on Thursday, April 16, according to the official website of the award.
"Since the large-scale invasion by Russia in 2022, President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people have been fighting relentlessly for their freedom and independence. By awarding the international Four Freedoms Award, the Roosevelt Foundation board expresses its support for the Ukrainian people and President Zelenskyy," the report says.