Prime Minister Boris Rhein honors the Ukrainian president for his commitment to freedom and democracy.
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The Wilhelm Leuschner Medal is the highest award in the state of Hesse.
The Prime Minister of Hesse, Boris Rhein (CDU), awards the Wilhelm Leuschner Medal 2026 to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj. Zelensky's commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine, freedom, democracy and the integration of Ukraine into the basic political and value system of the European Union made him "a symbolic figure in the fight against military aggression," said Rhein, justifying the honor.
The highest Hessian award also goes to the Ukrainian people, who, as victims of Russia's war of aggression, which violates international law, have been defending not only the sovereignty of their country but also Europe and its values for almost five years, said Rhein. Zelensky's example also shows that freedom and democratic self-determination cannot be taken for granted: "It often takes personal courage and the willingness to take on political responsibility in order to live self-determined and free."
“Our solidarity is an expression of the shared conviction that the future of a country should not be determined by military force,” emphasized the Prime Minister. The medal for Zelensky is a sign of the importance of democratic self-determination, European solidarity and the protection of freedom.

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