MUNICH (CHATNEWSTV) — Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission, was honored Saturday with the Ewald von Kleist Award for her leadership in rallying European support for Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The award was presented by Munich Security Conference (MSC) Chairman Ambassador Christoph Heusgen at a ceremony hosted by Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder at the Munich Residence.
“After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kaja Kallas stood tall and provided essential leadership in rallying support for the oppressed people of a country facing extinction,” Heusgen said. “She made a significant contribution to uniting the European people against a ruthless dictatorship—just as Ewald von Kleist was a key part of the German resistance against the Nazi regime.”
Heusgen praised Kallas as a “resilient and widely recognized leader and staunch defender of the rule of law,” adding that her tenure as the first former prime minister to hold the EU’s top foreign policy role had already cemented her reputation as a strong global voice for Europe.
Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, has been a vocal advocate for Ukraine, pushing for stronger European sanctions on Russia and increased military and financial aid for Kyiv. Her leadership has been credited with helping to maintain European unity in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.
The Ewald von Kleist Award, established by the MSC, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to international security and peace. Previous recipients include former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Accepting the Ewald von Kleist Award, Kallas reflected on the ongoing war in Ukraine, expressing both gratitude and unease. “On one side, I’m truly honored and really humbled to receive this award. But on the other hand, I can’t help but feel that I don’t deserve it because the war is still going on,” she said.
She drew historical parallels, likening the current crisis to Czechoslovakia in 1938 and warning against appeasement. “We have an aggressor at our door intent on taking land that isn’t his. And the negotiators, not us, are already giving away their bargaining chips before the negotiations have even begun,” she said.
Kallas urged Europe to act with urgency, stressing that the war is not just about Ukraine’s sovereignty but about global security. “If we were honestly doing enough to protect ourselves, the war would be over by now—and Ukraine would have won already,” she argued.
Ending her speech, she dedicated the award to the people of Ukraine. “Slava Ukraini.”
The ceremony took place as European leaders gathered in Munich for the annual security conference, where discussions focused on the war in Ukraine, transatlantic relations, and global security challenges.
