On the day of the National Day of the French Republic, French Ambassador to Ukraine Etienne de Ponsin presented the Order of the Legion of Honor to Ukrainian writer and poet Lina Kostenko.
“Mrs. Kostenko, if I give three words that could describe you, then I would note the following: determination, courage and desire, in spite of everything, to remain free. These three words, in my opinion, best characterize your life path , the main thing is your determination to remain a person with an active citizenship,” de Ponsin said at the award ceremony in Kyiv on Thursday.
He added that when he made an official proposal to French President Emmanuel Macron to present Lina Kostenko for a high award, he could not even imagine that this award would take place during the war.
“But in the context of Russia’s aggression, of which Ukraine has become a victim, the presentation of this award becomes even more significant,” the ambassador said.
He stressed that Kostenko’s civic activism has always been one of her traits, along with her great talent as a writer and poetess.
“But it is your courage, determination, civic position that we want to note today,” de Ponsin said.
Kostenko said that it was a great honor for her to receive the award.
“In a difficult time, we have gathered here, but on a very good occasion, because the Order of the Legion of Honor is a knightly order, and it is a great honor to receive it. I confess that it was an absolute surprise for me, because I belong to world-famous literature – and suddenly such an award. Mr. Ambassador said very truly, I really love France, and even in those terrible totalitarian times, I always went to France with my soul, I have poems about France, “said Kostenko.
The writer stressed that she dedicates the award to Ukrainian soldiers. “This is our most powerful legion,” Kostenko said.
“When I was accused of anti-Soviet creativity and called for reprisals, I simply quoted Camus to them – that the world is divided into the plague and its victims, and my choice is not to side with the plague. It was generally the motto of the sixties – not to side with the plague, and now this is an alternative for all of humanity, because the vibrios of the plague did not disappear anywhere, as Camus envisaged, and these vibrios grew, filled with rage and now fell upon Ukraine in the form of the ugliest war,” Kostenko noted.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that Lina Kostenko has always been the embodiment of a person who, despite difficult life circumstances and challenges, has never betrayed her principles.
“Today you inspire us to fight and, most importantly, never give up. This award is once again recognition of your creativity, your international authority. This is a great example for all of us, Ukrainians, what kind of dreams, principles, values a person should always fight,” Klitschko said.
Lina Kostenko is a significant personality for Ukrainians, a symbol of Ukrainian literature of the 20th century, a bright representative of the generation of Ukrainian dissidents. Kostenko has always been with the Ukrainians in the most difficult times. During the Soviet period, she defended the persecuted Ukrainian patriots. In 1986, after the Chernobyl disaster, she spoke to the liquidators. In 2004, 2014, during the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity, she supported the protesters who defended universal values and the right to live in a democratic, sovereign and European state on Independence Square.
Belonging to the Order of the Legion of Honor is the highest distinction, honor and official recognition of special merits in France.
