Boris Johnson Presented With Honorary 'Citizen of Kyiv' Award in Davos
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko presented former UK prime minister Boris Johnson with an honorary “Citizen of Kyiv” medal at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 19.
“As Prime Minister of Great Britain, Johnson did everything possible to help Ukraine. And continues to support us and convince the civilized world of the necessary support,” Klitschko said on Telegram.
Footage released by Klitschko shows Johnson receiving the medal.
The decision to award Johnson with title was approved by Kyiv’s city council in November 2022, Ukrainian media reported. Credit: Vitali Klitschko via Storyful
Video transcript
- Welcome to Ukrainian house. And this will be great to see all people pull together. United in this critical moment for our country. And right now, I have some special mission. Great to see so many friends of our homeland and great to see big friends of Ukraine, Boris Johnson. We, Ukrainian, appreciate for everything what are you doing for our homeland. And we have a mission from our citizens, from Kyiv citizens to give you honorary Kyiv citizenship from Ukraine. From Ukraine, from Kyiv citizen.
- Bravo. [APPLAUSE]
BORIS JOHNSON: Thank you very, very much. Thank you, guys Thank you very, very much, Mr. Mayor Vitali. Thank you very much. Vladimir issued one of my passport. Thank you very much. Freedom pass. My freedom pass for the Kyiv metro and-- [LAUGHTER] I just want to say what a huge honor this is.
I first met Mr. Mayor many years ago when I was mayor of London. And he came to see me, and he said, come to Kyiv, and I did when I was Foreign Secretary. And you very kindly gave me a tour of your city, your beautiful, beautiful city. And I talked to many Ukrainians. And I realized then, that if Putin was ever so mad as to invade Ukraine, that Ukrainians would fight and that they would win. And that is what is going to happen.
- Yes.
BORIS JOHNSON: And there is no doubt in my mind at all that Putin has made a catastrophic mistake. And the only thing that we, in the friends of Ukraine, have got to do now is to continue our support for Ukraine with tanks, with planes with whatever it takes. With financial resources until Ukraine wins, and Ukraine is once again a free, sovereign and independent European country. That is what we all want to achieve. [APPLAUSE] Thank you. Thank you for inviting me. Thank you for having me in the Ukraine House.
- Ukraine, everybody.
BORIS JOHNSON: Thank you very much. Thank you.
