Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska gave a rare interview to the country’s press and appeared alongside her husband, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for only the second time since the war began in February staying in undisclosed locations for security reasons.
“Our family was torn apart, just like all Ukrainian families,” he said in an interview.
- Share this news on WhatsApp
- Share this news on Telegram
The Ukrainian reporter then asked, “The war essentially took your man away from you.”
“No one takes my husband away from me, not even the war,” Zelenska replied.
“But yeah, he lives for his job and we (family) hardly see him. We didn’t see him for two and a half months (during the war). We only call each other. And I am grateful for this opportunity (interview) that allows us to spend time together.”
“A romantic date on TV,” said the interviewer. “Yeah, a TV date. Thank you,” replied the first lady, who has two children with Zelensky — a girl named Oleksandra and a boy named Kyrylo.
On the first day of Russian military action, on February 24, Zelenska stated that she “woke up to strange noises outside, as probably did everyone else”.
- VIDEO: After filming Mariupol and transporting a chip with images in a tampon, a Ukrainian doctor is captured by Russia
- How Russia took over hundreds of leased planes in response to Western sanctions
“It was dark and I saw that Volodymyr (Zelensky) was not lying next to me. He was already dressed, wearing a suit but no tie. I asked him what was going on and he said, ‘It’s started.’ Describe the feelings fear, drowsiness… He told me so and left. We didn’t see each other for a long time after that.”
Alongside Zelenska, the Ukrainian President said that the end of the Ukrainian war depended on diplomacy.
“I’m very convinced of that. There are things that we can’t finish without sitting at a negotiating table. (…) Because we want everything back and Russia doesn’t want to give anything back,” Zelenskyy said.
The war in Ukraine is drawing to a close after three months with no clear end in sight.
This weekend, Ukraine’s top negotiator, Mykhailo Podolyak, ruled out any possibility of a ceasefire with Ukraine’s territorial concessions. He claims that this would allow Russian troops to remain there and facilitate possible future attacks.
After capturing the port city of Mariupol, Russian troops continue to attack the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. They are believed to be preparing to take over the cities of Sloviansk and Severodonetsk.
This Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended martial law in Ukraine by another three months until August 23. This law determines, for example, the stay of men between the ages of 18 and 60 in the country to fight in the war.
Video shows rocket attack on government buildings in eastern Ukraine