At the International Summit of Cities and Communities, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi awarded Paris with an award for energy support to Ukraine this winter.
"I want to separately thank all the countries and the respective communities, cities, peoples and ordinary people who helped and continue to help Ukraine to go through this most difficult period of brutal, bloody darkness, the winter period, to stand against Russian missile terror, against terrorist attacks on our energy system.
I would also like to note today the help of Paris, which became one of the leaders of energy support for Ukraine this winter and gathered partners in such an "energy Ramstein". This meeting was in Paris, then our partners supplied the appropriate equipment that helped us preserve the bright light of life," Zelenskyi said.
The leader of the state emphasized that it would be an honor for him to present the award to the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.
"There is always a question with our protocol. For some reason, I have to give you this award not here, even though I am here and you are here. And that's how we established the award, shook hands and that's it. Thank God, Mrs. Hidalgo, that you helped us with the energy equipment is not in such a format as "yes, we support you, but we will hand it over later". We will definitely give everything," Zelenskyi joked.
He added that he was grateful to France, the country's president Emmanuel Macron and Parisians who supported the initiative.
After the speech, the president of the country presented the award to the mayor of Paris.