Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has received the Freedom of the City of London, one of the oldest honorary distinctions associated with the British capital. He became the first Ukrainian ambassador to receive the honor.
The ceremony took place at Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London. During the event, Zaluzhnyi was formally admitted as a Freeman of the City of London. The ceremony was attended by the Lord Mayor, Dame Susan Langley.
The Freedom of the City of London has a centuries-old history. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages and is believed to have originated in 1237. Today, the status is primarily honorary and symbolic.
Zaluzhnyi received the distinction in his capacity as Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom. Before entering diplomatic service, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian Embassy said the honor also carries symbolic significance for relations between Kyiv and London, describing it as another testament to the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom and the special level of bilateral ties forged during the Russo-Ukrainian war.
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