On December 14, the European Parliament awarded Ukrainians and the country's president Volodymyr Zelensky with the Sakharov Prize.

During his speech, the head of state called on the world to act without waiting for war.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

The ceremony of awarding the Sakharov Prize was broadcast on the Internet.

"The award goes to the brave Ukrainian people, represented by the country's president, elected leaders and civil society," the European Parliament announced. 

During the ceremony, Zelensky made a speech in which he recalled the crimes of the Russian occupiers in Mariupol, and also called to honor the memory of all those who died. 

"Perhaps, only after the end of this war, when we liberate all our land and can find all the graves of victims of Russian terror, we will be able to say how many lives tyranny took this time," said the Ukrainian leader. 

The president called on the world to act without waiting for war.

He also called for bringing to justice all those who started the war.

Zelensky emphasized that the most effective protection of freedom and human rights is to prevent the repetition of aggression.

Note that the Sakharov Prize is an annual honor of the European Parliament.

It is awarded for the protection of human rights and its basic freedoms;

development of democracy and defense of the rule of law;

respect for international legislation; protection of minority rights.