During the evening gala of the Economic Forum in Karpacz, the ‘Man of the Year’ award was presented to the President of Ukraine. The award was collected on his behalf by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Zwarycz. A laudation in favour of the laureate was delivered by Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Ryszard Terlecki.

“You have inspired admiration and have become the world’s most famous politician. You deserve an incomparably greater award”, said Deputy Speaker Terlecki

The Deputy Speaker of the Sejm pointed out that after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, President Zelenski became the best-known politician in the world.

“Ukraine defended itself, and you told us about it every day. Ukraine defended itself in a way none of us could have imagined possible, and you confirmed it to us every day in your accounts from Kyiv under siege and then leading the heroic defence of Ukraine”, said Ryszard Terlecki. The Deputy Speaker expressed the hope that the award from the Economic Forum would be the beginning of great recognition for President Zelenski in the months and years to come.

The award was received by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Zwarycz, who thanked emotionally on behalf of President Zelenski. In his speech, Zwarycz said that it was an award also for the Ukrainian people and soldiers fighting for freedom, sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity. The ambassador added that he believes in the victory of Ukraine

“It will be our joint victory. And we will do it as it is written in the national anthem of the Republic of Poland: what foreign violence has taken; we will take back with a sabre. We will take back for sure. I thank Poland very much for supplying us with these sabres in the form of the famous Polish Krabs, Pioruns and other weapons. We are winning together – and this will also be our joint victory, our joint fight for your freedom and ours. Long live a free Poland. Long live a free Ukraine”, said Ambassador Vasyl Zwarycz.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński