Zelenskyy called the awarding of a Ukrainian order to Assad a mistake
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation regarding the Ukrainian state award held by former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
The head of state said he was surprised by the very fact of such an award and called the decision an unwise move. The issue of potentially stripping Assad of the order has become relevant following his flight to Russia.
Zelenskyy spoke about this during a closed-door meeting with journalists.
Bashar al-Assad was awarded Ukraine’s highest state honor—the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, First Class—back in April 2002. Then-President Leonid Kuchma signed a decree awarding the honor with the wording “for outstanding personal contributions to the development of Ukrainian-Syrian relations.”
Despite the fact that with the start of the full-scale invasion, the Assad regime supported Russian aggression and recognized the occupied territories of Ukraine as “independent,” the award formally remained with him until recently.
Responding to a question about the possibility of revoking the order from the dictator, who is currently in hiding in Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not hide his surprise at the very fact that such an award existed.
“I’m surprised as to why Assad was given the order. It was definitely an unwise move,” the president noted succinctly.
The president announced a series of meetings with European leaders, where Ukraine will act not only as a recipient of aid but also as a key partner in the security sphere.
“I will be meeting with European leaders in the near future. Just as we are negotiating in the Middle East and the Gulf, we will negotiate in Europe as well—we need long-term cooperation that truly strengthens Ukraine. It is very important to follow this path, because I am confident that no one else possesses the military and security expertise that we have today. Of course, in addition to this, we will discuss funding for Ukraine and issues related to our place in the European Union,” Zelenskyy noted.
Zelenskyy commented onthe situation in Transnistria and the threats in the Vinnytsia region.
Zelenskyy awarded several cities the title of Hero City of Ukraine.
Ukraine has received new missiles for the Patriot system, according to Zelenskyy.
Air defense forces shot down113 Russian drones; strikes were recorded in six locations.
Prior to this, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the “Krymska” oil pumping station in the Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation. A fire broke out there following the attack. Warehouses and military equipment in the occupied territories were also hit.
