Zelenskyy and Matviychuk to be honored with the European Parliament’s highest award
The European Parliament has decided to honor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and human rights activist Oleksandra Matviychuk with its highest award—the Order of Merit. They are among the key recipients of the 2026 award, recognized for their contributions to the defense of democracy, human rights, and European values. This information comes from the European Parliament’s official sources.
The European Parliament has announced the new recipients of its highest honor, the Order of Merit, which includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian human rights activist and head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Matviychuk, underscoring Ukraine’s political and civic significance in the modern European system.
The European Parliament’s statement emphasizes that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was honored for his “historic contribution to the defense of democratic values, freedom, and European security,” which, according to the institution, was the key criterion for awarding the honorary status.
Along with him, Oleksandra Matviychuk was included in the list of laureates; her work in the field of human rights and the documentation of war crimes has become one of the most prominent on the international stage.
Among the other honorees are Moldovan President Maia Sandu, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, former Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, and former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, forming a broad roster of European political and public figures.
The European Order of Merit was established in 2025 as a means of recognizing individuals who have made a significant contribution to strengthening European integration, protecting human rights, and countering authoritarian regimes. The official award ceremony will take place on May 19, 2026, in Strasbourg, in the European Parliament’s plenary hall, where the laureates will be formally presented with their awards.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved one-time cash payments for Independence Day, which will be received by veterans, people with war-related disabilities, families of the deceased, and other specified categories of citizens.
