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Poland's Lublin honoured by Ukraine's Zelensky: City Hall

07.04.2023 14:30
Poland’s eastern city of Lublin says it has been honoured by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for its wide-ranging support of Ukraine and its people amid Russia's invasion.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (third from left) and Lublin Mayor Krzysztof Żuk (second from left) are among those posing for a photo during the awards ceremony at the Polish Prime Ministers Office in Warsaw on April 5, 2023.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (third from left) and Lublin Mayor Krzysztof Żuk (second from left) are among those posing for a photo during the awards ceremony at the Polish Prime Minister's Office in Warsaw on April 5, 2023.Photo: Polish Prime Minister's Office/KPRM

Lublin's support has included financial and humanitarian assistance, in addition to emergency and military aid, City Hall has said.

It noted in a statement that Zelensky on Wednesday "honoured Lublin with the title of City-Rescuer."

During a visit to Poland on April 5, Zelensky thanked Lublin for helping Ukraine and "granted this honorable distinction" to Mayor Krzysztof Żuk, according to the statement.

"For us, help for Ukraine means, for example" helping a mother "who came here with her two sons at the beginning of the war," Żuk said, as quoted by Lublin City Hall. "They could have lost their eyes as a result of a rocket strike, but Lublin ophthalmologists saved their eyesight."

Żuk added that "help for Ukraine" also "means ... children, women and men, whom we have supported thus far. And thousands of volunteers who, a few hours after the first attacks, were already ready to help, to open the doors of their homes to strangers."

"I am proud that we could show how ... honest our hearts are," Żuk also said. "I would like to thank Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky for this great distinction for our city and residents."

Lublin City Hall also said in its statement that the Ukrainian president honoured Lublin "for comprehensive help and solidarity shown to the Ukrainian nation and for supporting Ukraine in defending its independence and sovereignty."

It noted that Lublin has become one of the main destinations for Ukrainian refugees seeking shelter from Russia's war.

"The City-Rescuer title" was established last year by the Ukrainian president "as a sign of gratitude" to partner cities involved in helping Ukraine and its citizens after the Russian invasion, according to Lublin City Hall.

While in Poland on Wednesday, Zelensky also handed awards to the mayors of the southeastern Polish cities of Rzeszów, Przemyśl and Chełm for their support of Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, Polish state news agency PAP has reported.

The Ukrainian president made a one-day state visit to Warsaw on Wednesday, his first official trip to Poland since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of his country in February last year.

Zelensky met for talks with Poland's President Andrzej Duda, and he also held talks with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, attended a Polish-Ukrainian business forum, and addressed the public outside the Polish capital's Royal Castle.

Friday is day 408 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: lublin.eu

INTERVIEW

'If you can do more, you should': exec

Radio Poland's Danuta Isler spoke to Bogdan Łukasik, CEO of Modern-Expo Group, a company founded in Lublin in 1993, about humanitarian assistance and help for Ukraine.

He said that in business "the rules are quite simple ... if you can do more, you should."

Bogdan Łukasik, CEO of Modern Expo Bogdan Łukasik, CEO of Modern Expo. Photo: Radio Poland

Click on the audio player above to hear the interview.