Aachen, Germany – The Director of the Carl the Great Prize Committee, Jürgen Linden, expressed regret that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was unable to attend the Aachen event. Linden told the Rheinische Post that the committee had expected Zelenskyy’s presence until midday on Wednesday, but an event in Ukraine forced him to return from Berlin, where he had met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss further support for Ukraine.
The possibility of Zelenskyy’s participation in the Aachen prize ceremony, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was awarded the prize on Thursday, had caused some confusion in the run-up. A report by the Spiegel claimed that Zelenskyy had cancelled his visit to Aachen due to a looming Russian large-scale offensive, which was later denied by the Ukrainian Embassy in Berlin. In a statement, the Embassy said the reports were not true and that Zelenskyy’s participation in the prize ceremony was never confirmed, but rather treated as a possible option.
The International Carl the Great Prize in Aachen is considered the most important award for achievements in European integration. In 2023, Zelenskyy, along with the Ukrainian people, was awarded the prize.