Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced on Wednesday that he will award the Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty to Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky.
According to the presidency note, the Portuguese head of state “intends to announce the award of President Zelensky on the 24th of this month, the date on which the Russian aggression against Ukraine will have been completed for a year”.
“Taking into account the parliamentary initiative in this matter, hereby announces that it has decided to award the President of Ukraine the Grand Cross of the Order of Freedom,” the statement read on the Presidency’s website.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s decision is known after the newspaper Público reported that the PAN planned to mark a year of the war in Ukraine with a proposal for an award to President Zelensky, prompting the Portuguese head of state to anticipate the announcement .
Last year, Marcelo conceded the possibility of going to Kiev, if and when the government deems it necessary, after learning through the media that Zelensky had invited him to travel to the Ukrainian capital. “Of course it is,” replied the Portuguese head of state.
“I will go when the government deems it necessary and it is clear that it is in the interest of Portugal, certainly and with great pleasure. There is one point on which all the political powers of the state agree, and that is convergence in support of Ukrainian,” he said at the time.
Source: DN
