Germany's Baerbock honoured with Ukrainian Order of Merit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has honoured German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock with an Order of Merit for her support for his country.

Members of the German parliament Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and Anton Hofreiter were also honoured with Ukrainian medals.

In the decree issued shortly before the New Year, the Ukrainian president honoured 32 foreign individuals. They had made "a significant personal contribution to strengthening inter-state cooperation and supporting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

Strack-Zimmermann, chairwoman of the Defence Committee in the Bundestag, called the award a great honour. "It is also an incentive for me to continue to stand unwaveringly by the side of our brave friends," she said in Berlin on Friday.

She will continue to advocate "that Ukraine receives the support it needs in the fight against the brutal Russian attack."

The Free Democrat (FDP) politician is considered one of the most committed advocates of aid for Ukraine. She makes no secret of the fact that she considers the actions of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, to be too hesitant.

Green politician Hofreiter, as chairman of the Europe Committee, is also in favour of military aid for Ukraine.

Baerbock, also a Green, has visited the attacked country several times and is in favour of a "Europe from Lisbon to Luhansk."

The foreign minister was awarded the third level of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise.

Strack-Zimmermann and Hofreiter were honoured with the third level of the Ukrainian Order of Merit.

Zelensky awarded the highest level of the Order of Yaroslav to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.