PERSON OF THE YEAR: AMBASSADOR OLE EGBERG MIKKELSEN RECEIVES THE INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY AWARD
We are proud to announce that Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen received the International Diplomacy Award at the 29th Nationwide “Person of the Year – 2024” ceremony, held May 31st in Kyiv.
In his official nomination, the High Academic Council commended Ambassador Mikkelsen for his personal contributions to advancing Ukraine’s international partnerships and for deepening bilateral cooperation across diplomacy, defence, development, and recovery. Under his leadership, the Danish Embassy in Ukraine has been instrumental in realizing the strategic partnership between Denmark and Ukraine—highlighted by Denmark’s continued financial, humanitarian, and military support, and its patronage of the Mykolaiv region.
In his acceptance speech, Ambassador Mikkelsen emphasized that the award is not a personal accolade, but a shared recognition of the efforts of the entire embassy team and the Danish nation:
“This award is not for me personally. I receive it as Denmark’s envoy, but it is primarily a recognition of the strong Danish-Ukrainian partnership that has evolved since the full-scale Russian aggression.”
He also spoke clearly about the importance of military support in ensuring Ukraine’s survival:
“When I am asked what Denmark does in Ukraine, I often say: We do three things – weapons, weapons, and weapons. That is of course an exaggeration. But about 90% of our support is defence equipment. Without weapons, Ukraine will not be able to survive as a free and sovereign nation.”
Ambassador Mikkelsen highlighted Denmark’s evolving role, from providing key military systems like Caesar howitzers, Harpoon missiles, and F-16s, to implementing the “Danish model”—supporting Ukrainian defence manufacturing directly. At the same time, he reaffirmed Denmark’s long-term civilian engagement, especially through the country’s active patronage of the Mykolaiv region.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ambassador Mikkelsen. This award is a meaningful reflection of the strong and growing ties between our nations—and of Denmark’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s freedom, sovereignty, and recovery.
Full speech here.
