“It is an honor for me to receive the Ewald von Kleist Award, which this year has been awarded to the Ukrainian people.

“Thank you for this award for the Ukrainian people – an award of Ukrainian strength and our friendship. Friendship with all of you. Without friendship, strength is never enough.

“And that’s why Ukraine works so hard to build at least mutual understanding, mutual respect, and fair treatment with everyone. At the very least. And even better – true friendship.

“I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine. I thank everyone who is working to stop this war with a real peace. I thank you for respecting our people – all Ukrainians. And we respect you. Thank you.”

With the Ewald von Kleist Award, the Munich Security Conference has been honoring leading personalities in security politics who have made an outstanding contribution to international understanding and conflict resolution since the award’s inception in 2009.

Ewald von Kleist was the founder and defining personality of the Munich Security Conference. As its patron for over 30 years, Kleist was instrumental in advancing the transatlantic security dialogue and introducing post-war Germany into NATO and the broader Cold War security order.