President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal has been awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class, by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The President of the Republic was honored by the President of Ukraine with the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class, on the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day,” read a statement from the office of the President of Portugal.
The statement further explains that “in a Presidential Decree published on August 23, 2025,” the President of Ukraine decided to honor 143 international figures for their “significant contribution to strengthening international cooperation, support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, support for social causes, and global promotion of Ukraine,” including eight Heads of State and Government.
“The President of the Republic reiterates Portugal’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” it stated.
On Sunday, when Ukraine celebrated its 34th independence anniversary, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa sent a congratulatory letter to Zelensky, accusing Russia of violating this independence and criticizing “so-called mediators” of peace.
“The President of the Republic sends to Ukraine, the Ukrainian People, and President Volodymyr Zelensky an even more solidary embrace,” the letter said.
“Because, now more than ever, it suits the invader who violated this independence to pretend that there was no invasion. And that it is possible to move towards a peace agreement without a ceasefire and to use the peace agreement to negotiate parts of Ukrainian territory that it has occupied and continues to attempt to occupy,” stated the Portuguese head of state.
On the occasion of the 34th independence anniversary, “the President of the Republic sends to Ukraine, the Ukrainian People, and President Volodymyr Zelensky an even more solidary embrace”.
Lusa | 07:59 – 24/08/2025
The Ukrainian president made a point of sincerely thanking “President de Sousa for the heartfelt congratulations on Ukraine’s Independence Day and for his powerful words of solidarity with our nation.”
“Ukraine deeply values Portugal’s unwavering support in defending our independence, as well as its comprehensive assistance and willingness to stand by our side on the path to a lasting and sustainable peace,” Zelensky wrote on the social network X.
I sincerely thank President de Sousa for the heartfelt congratulations on Ukraine’s Independence Day and for your powerful words of solidarity with our nation.
Ukraine deeply values Portugal’s unwavering support in defending our independence, as well as its comprehensive… pic.twitter.com/UgrvPwSvLL
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2025
Previously, Zelensky had congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day with an emotional message about the aspiration for a just, secure, and lasting peace, contrasting with the more combative messages of previous years.
“One day, the distance between Ukrainians will disappear, and we will once again be together as a country and a family. It’s only a matter of time,” he stated in a video released on social media.
