The Ukrainian human rights defender and European Order of Merit laureate said that after three centuries in Russia's shadow, Ukraine is now "back in Europe.” #EuropeNews
Published on
19/05/2026 - 14:10 GMT+2
“For three centuries, we were in (the) shadow of Russian Empire. And I’m here to say, Europe, we are back,” Ukrainian human rights defender Oleksandra Matviichuk declared as she received the European Order of Merit in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Visibly emotional, Matviichuk said Ukraine is “returning home to European values.”
“We are paying the highest price for this.”
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