Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, gave a rare interview to the country’s press and appeared alongside her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, for only the second time since the beginning of the war in February – she has remained in secret locations for security reason.
“Our family has been torn apart, just like all Ukrainian families,” he said in the interview. The Ukrainian reporter then asked, “The war has essentially taken your husband away from you.” “No one takes my husband away from me, not even war,” Zelenska replied.
“But yes, he lives for his work, and we [famÃlia] we hardly see it. We haven’t seen him for two and a half months [da duração da guerra]. We only talk on the phone with each other. Now we are having a few occasions to see each other. And I’m grateful for this occasion [entrevista]which allows us to spend time together”.
“A romantic date on TV,” said the interviewer. “Yes, a TV date. Thank you,” replied the first lady, who has two children with Zelensky — a girl named Oleksandra and a boy named Kirilo.
On the first day of Russian military action, on February 24, Zelenska stated that she “wake up to strange sounds outside, like probably everyone else”.
“It was dark, and I saw that Volodymir [Zelenski] was not [deitado] by my side. He was already dressed, in a suit, but no tie. I asked him what was going on, and he said, ‘It’s started.’ I can’t describe the emotions—anxiety, stupor… He told me that and left. After that, we didn’t see each other for a long time.”
Alongside Zelenska, the Ukrainian president said that the end of the Ukrainian War depends on diplomacy.
“I am very convinced of that. There are things that we cannot finish without sitting at a negotiating table. […] Because we want everything back, and Russia doesn’t want to give anything back,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian War is close to completing three months with no clear end on the horizon.
This weekend, the top Ukrainian negotiator, Mikhailo Podoliak, ruled out any possibility of a ceasefire with territorial concessions by Ukraine. 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 attempt to take over the cities of Sloviansk and Severodonetsk.
This Sunday, Volodymyr Zelensky extended martial law in Ukraine for another three months, until August 23. This law determines, for example, the permanence of men aged between 18 and 60 in the country to fight in the war.
