--- title: "Klitschko Receives European Future Award in Berlin and Urges Europe Not to Grow Tired of Supporting Ukraine" description: "Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko received the European Future Award via video address at a ceremony in Berlin and urged European countries not to grow tired of supporting Ukraine, as he remained in the capital due to daily shelling." date: 2026-10-20T10:35:59.424Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/klitschko-receives-european-future-award-berlin tags: [ukraine, kyiv, vitali-klichko, europe, germany, european-future-award, russia-ukraine-war, solidarity] author: "Alexander Buran, Marina Slivenko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Klitschko Receives European Future Award in Berlin and Urges Europe Not to Grow Tired of Supporting Ukraine ![Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko in a tactical jacket and blue shirt against the backdrop of destruction](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/20/klichko-european-future-award-berlin-solidarnost/klichko-european-future-award-berlin-solidarnost-1.webp) ## Key Points - Vitali Klitschko was awarded the European Future Award at a ceremony in Berlin under the patronage of German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil - The Kyiv mayor addressed the audience via video, unable to fly to Berlin due to daily Russian shelling of the capital - Klitschko urged European countries to show solidarity and warned that Russia is counting on the exhaustion of European support - The award jury noted that Klitschko's work embodies the defense of people's right to freely choose their own future Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has been honored with the European Future Award, an accolade presented under the patronage of German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil to figures who defend freedom, human rights, solidarity, and strengthen European unity. The ceremony took place in Berlin, though Klitschko himself was unable to attend in person: due to daily Russian shelling of the capital, he decided to remain in Kyiv and addressed the audience via video link. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Deutsche Presse-Agentur agency. ### “Freedom Needs People Who Defend Each Other” In his address, Klitschko stressed that the Russian leader aims to subdue Ukraine through brutal bombardment and force millions of people to flee the country and go to Europe. “We never want war in Europe again. The world needs our shared responsibility. Freedom needs people who defend each other,” the capital's mayor stated. According to him, Vladimir Putin is banking on European countries eventually growing tired of supporting Kyiv and forcing Ukraine to capitulate. This is precisely why, Klitschko emphasized, the hope for a shared future in Europe gives Ukrainians the strength to continue their resistance. ### International Recognition The jury of the European Future Award noted that Vitali Klitschko's activities go far beyond defending Kyiv and Ukraine as a whole. According to the experts' assessment, his work represents the defense of people's right to live freely and independently choose their own future. The award is presented as part of a program held under the patronage of German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and aims to support those who strengthen European unity amid geopolitical tensions. ### Context: Award from Florence and Reconstruction Issues Recently, Klitschko also received the highest municipal award of the Italian city of Florence — a symbolic key to the city, which he called “a gesture of support for all Ukrainians.” Thus, recognition of his activities on the international stage continues to grow. At the same time, the Kyiv mayor previously criticized the government over the Cabinet's freezing of funds for the reconstruction of residential buildings damaged by shelling, highlighting the dual reality in which he operates: international recognition on one hand, and the daily work of rebuilding a destroyed city on the other. ### What This Means for Europe Klitschko's address in Berlin, delivered amid ongoing shelling, served as a direct appeal to European capitals not to weaken their course of supporting Ukraine. The capital's mayor emphasized that war in Europe must not become the norm, and the responsibility for preventing and ending it lies with all countries on the continent. At a time when, as he notes, Moscow is betting on the exhaustion of European will, such public signals from Kyiv acquire both symbolic and political significance. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Кличко получил награду European Future Award и призвал Европу к солидарности с Украиной](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/klichko-otrimav-nagorodu-european-future-1792492274.html) - Primary source: Klitschko's video address at the Berlin ceremony, quotes, shelling context, Klingbeil's patronage, jury evaluation. All key facts of the article rely on this source. - [Кличко получил высшую награду от Флоренции: "Считаю ее жестом поддержки всех украинцев"](https://ukranews.com/news/1141212-klichko-poluchil-vysshuyu-nagradu-ot-florentsii-schitayu-ee-zhestom-podderzhki-vseh-ukraintsev) - Used as additional context: receiving the symbolic key of Florence. Does not contradict the main material. ## FAQ ### Why did Klitschko not attend the Berlin ceremony in person? According to his own words, he planned to travel to Berlin to receive the award but decided to stay in Kyiv due to daily Russian shelling of the capital. ### What is the European Future Award? It is an award presented under the patronage of German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil to figures who defend freedom, human rights, solidarity, and strengthen European unity. ### What is the main message of Klitschko's address to Europe? Klitschko urged European countries to maintain solidarity and resist pressure, warning that Russia expects European support to wane and aims to force Ukraine into capitulation.