rules that have to be fulfilled before a country can join the block. so the key word again is perspective. it's showing that both of the ukrainian side on from the use side. there's at least the idea that ukraine will belong to the european family. and the fact by the way that he's receiving this charlemagne prize, which is the prize specifically on europe in unity, is an indication that these european leaders attending and other european leaders to seeing ukraine as part of the broad european community. they do see ukraine as playing that role in when it comes to european unity when it comes to european values when it comes to european priorities. and that's something that explains why for me, savanski this visit to germany today. and in particular, this visit to the west of gemini giovanni. so relevant this afternoon. and we expect tim together with the gentleman, chancellor or left sholtes. uh, any moment of this afternoon. uh, we've already seen some life uh pictures uh,

from austin, phone, from the whole the festive hole where the international charlemagne, prize of often 2023 will be awarded to below them use the landscape and of course to the people of ukraine. and this is the live coverage were basically just waiting for them to arrive. and here with me in the studio is a thomas, a sparrow who can fill us in on an old, the background. and if you mention to obviously the of ukrainian push now really to become also a member of the european union and european commission, a president. i was left on the line and was into us several times old. so basically, signaling yes, we've heard you and you, you should be part of the european family as well as the push of being a member of nato. that is not just about it can nomics or emotions. it also has to do with security because a war of aggression likes,

the one that's taking place in else is very unlikely. if it's a country that's part of the european union or nato. absolutely, because the nato has rules, very clear rules that if one country is attacked, it's an attack on all countries, an old country would have to to react. so nato does offer security guarantees that much more importantly, if you are a member of nathan, if you're not a member of nato. clear example, finland, naples, newest member, one of the reasons wife and then wanted to become part of matress precisely because of the security guarantees. but i would like to start shift one second to maybe explain to all of us that are just joining why this prize in awesome is so so relevant. what's the context behind this? because i'm talking here about often in west and germany. that's, that was one of the 1st major cities in west germany to be liberated by the allied forces. and it was off to the 2nd world war that a group of citizens in often decided to join forces on coal for european unity. and

that's how this prize was actually launched was born and it's been going on with a few interruptions since 1950. and there's a long and very important list of people and institutions that have received this, this price very important for, for europe. so from his own monet to conrad and now i had much call, i could give you a very long list of names. so that's why this price is seen as very symbolic. and also very important when it comes to european unity and the fact that we have now, the ukranian president representing the ukranian people receiving specifically this award in a city like a 100, which was the 1st major 16 west germany to be liberated by allied forces is significant from a european perspective, it is an important moment and i think this moment is coming close. if i interpret those life images correct flow here on closer we've, we've already seen the german ministry of culture. so we seen the laser of the

german opposition statements mass enter, as well as the form of chancellor candidate, i mean lushin to the current head of north wind boost fadia handling the boost. so all those, the german political v i piece has interests of the whole there is again to the police. may i ask the leader of the opposition, the cd you c s u a, a potty the conservatives. so things seem to be starting very soon. so perhaps just briefly while keeping an eye out on, on the, the vocation there at. so lensky is also perceived as a kind of pop stall in, in those, in those last year. because he's given all these videos, speech is a lot, you're still on a political scale. but also when it comes to be cultural, a cation square, he sends his video messages, always reminding people of what's happening, ukraine and why it is so important, not to forget to support ukraine, regardless whether you're

a politician or an artist. and he's also been referred to as a diplomatic, a motivator. uh and is the situation so warren's as a highly articulate critic off is that the kind of combination that warrants the reception of that prestigious prize that's the kind of combination that he has needed to precisely get all the help that he has received in the past year from western countries needs to be that kind of lead us needs to make that kind of difference in order to make sure that that support is given to ukraine. and we're talking about military support, which we've discussed for a long time now. but we're talking about political support as well. we told me about economic support coming from different countries. and that's the type of leadership that has helped him precisely to get the support in recent months. it has to be a very clear lead. a has to have a can also you can meat style,

which we also see the fact that he doesn't weigh a suit and, and, and the tie that he comes with. his typical put over that. he speaks in the way that he does that. he's eloquent that he's critical that he's direct. uh, these kinds of elements have been important for him to really get that support. it's not always been easy. it has been controversial. it has created some problems and some of the countries that have been the recipients of that's a criticism because it's not always nice and easy to receive criticism from other countries. but if you look at it simply from the age that he has received, it has been successful. and again, that's the way he has chosen to really make sure that he and his government come get the political, military and economic support that they need to be able to carry out. and to fight this war against. i thomas, you also told us, obviously about the origins of this price and all those recipients over the decades, those big names, hospice price, the solomon price of austin ever made

a difference to the recipient of the vin. i said it earlier, nice to have, i wouldn't say it's just the prize that it's nice to have. it does the fact that it's so important to have the fact that it's been awarded with a few interruptions since 1950. the fact that mr. lensky, and that you couldn't, and people now joining this very important list of people. the fact that we're talking here about european unity, the fact that business surprise that's being awarded by a high number of very important politicians means that it's, it has weight, it carries weight and it helps to bring a message across. and that message that helps to bring across now is that the fight, that's the landscape of training and people, acquiring in that war against russia is one that also has to do with european values. european values like sovereignty, that, that respectful, that's software into like respect whatever to an integrity, like the fact that

a country cannot simply invade another, but the fact that one country cannot use force to cross the border. and besides, to change political structure says that those things cannot happen in the centrally that we are living and those that europe and values that based charlemagne price actually tries to defend. so it's definitely not surprised that it's simply nice to have. it does have a political weight, and i think it's political weight that it will help me savanski to bring his message across in different political so nice. and this weight is probably also one of the reasons why the ukranian president decided after all, to actually receive the price in person. because there was speculation that it might be too risky and that you would only send a video message. and when i look at those live images there, this is a bit cold, but there are lots of people. so security certainly is also on people's mind. absolutely. not only in people's mind, i imagine that the security procedures in and was indeed very,

very significant. the authorities in on had already indicated in advance that they were preparing for basically any scenario they were preparing on the one hand for most of the landscape to receive that award in person. but they were also preparing for him to deliver a video message and not come personally to receive that's. that's a word. and it was only accidental. the very last minute that we found out that he was indeed going to travel with tons of the shots to on from ballad to receive that award in, in person. until the very last minute. it was unclear what kind of procedures would be in place by the way, also regarding the visit in, in berlin, that has to do obviously with security issues. most of the landscape when he travels, does not tend to announce his plans much in advance. so it was least unfortunately a little bit too early for me to join inside was nice and it created a lot of problems and a lot of the country fuzzy here in gemini. some of the details were indeed leaked

to jem and press about a week ago. and it led to significant problems in the sort of behind the scenes planning. and by the way, it also led to an investigation by the police in berlin for a possible reason of seaquest photograph revealing state secrets serious, very serious. the reason is that in some of those reports, some in spokespeople was quoted as having revealed some, some details. although afterwards the police invalid said that they hadn't revealed any details that could have jeopardized the trip. nevertheless, it did create this investigation and behind the scenes, i can imagine that it also created some problems in the planning of such a high level visit. maybe some of the details were actually changed last minute. that's also one of the reasons why only until the very last minute. we found out that mrs. it ends key was indeed coming from rome that he was indeed meeting the

german president and the german chancellor. and that indeed, after meeting the german chancellor who was travelling with mister shaw to ask him to receive this prize inputs. and talking of the last minute to we see a lot of high level politicians and dignitaries in this whole waiting for the ceremony to begin. uh that is almost like a dish. absolutely, because earlier today in berlin, we will also waiting for the press conference between all the shows and a lot of use of lensky to start. they will basically had lots to exchange may be something similar now that a good or a bad sign. well, it's obviously very difficult to plan. these kinds of events. in general, there's a lot that goes into cutting these kinds of visit on this, even more going into a visit by the ukranian president, the president, that is at war with another country. so there is a lot of possibilities for that schedule. some moves back and forth forward,

there's a lot of space for them to maybe have extra discussions if needed from the information that we had. it was not only earlier today, a meeting between the german chancellor and the ukrainian president, but also meeting that involved other members of the government from both sides. in fact, during the press conference, we could see in the background some of germany's ranking, that means highest ranking politicians from foreign minister, not in a babel to germany's defense minister of voters bestowed as a german finance minister 1st. and then you could also see mr. created by ukraine's father administer, so they were also discussions beyond just mr. shorts and mr. savanski. and so we sometimes just to just to explain to all of us of the life fee to those pictures that we get from often we share with other broadcasters. and they obviously sometimes decide to show of footage that is older. what we've just seen obviously, was a very, very brief snippets office to be serious that made of

a lot of mr. lensky famous long before he was a politician. but in which he did play or act as a politician, which was also quite a quite astounding when you look at, at the scope of that career within a very brief period of time. and now he is the mon, the politician that most of the world is looking up to for, for his also his coverage. he refused to, to escape when he was offered an escape route right after the invasion started on today. he is in germany, on his way, hopefully in austin already in the western city of austin. in order to receive this prestigious prize, the international charlemagne prize of often for european university. which if you take it all together it's, it's an amazing story. it is an amazing story. it's also difficult uh, story how he ended up being in the,

in the spotlight. i can imagine that he would prefer not being in the spotlight of documents that his country would be a piece. but he does see obviously the responsibility that he has at hand, and he does see that role that he needs to play in, not only defending his country and his country's values and his country sovereignty, but also playing a role when it comes to european values. and uh, your to p and interest as well. so it's such a new, a remarkable story. the rise of president lensky. and i think that's also something that we may actually here today in, in and by these different leaders that will be speaking. not only to commemorate the people of ukraine for the best struggle for verified, but also mister savanski as the leader of the country, representing specifically the people of ukraine. again, it's about the values, it's about interest, it's about policies, but it's always about the person himself. and that's why it is really important for gemini, has been important for berlin. and also for on that me says that landscape made

this trip to germany. the 1st time he came to germany since the war and ukraine begun a significant, disgusting, many people were actually hoping he would visit soon. because they had seen that misses that ends up being and several other european companies. and they were wondering when he would actually come to germany that has to do with the fact that germany is the 2nd country that has provided the most help to ukraine, off to the united states, something. and by the way, mississippi mc himself today mentioned at the german trying to do what he meant to turn to the shortest job. and he has played a remarkable role, a controversial role as well. but he never, the less germany has been one of the most important countries when he comes to delivering political, economic and military a to ukraine. and that's also on top of the fact that over a 1000000 people from ukraine have come to germany since the war and you framed the guns. so you can clearly see that the help is not only coming from the german government. it's also a help that he can see coming from the german people that have welcomed these.