Olena Zelenska: “We have seen the new power of women”

Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, spoke in Abu Dhabi to a packed Fortune 30/50 summit on International Women’s Day. She spoke about Ukrainians in the midst of war.

“Ukrainian women and men have adapted so quickly that our enemies have not been able to come up with new challenges for us,” the first lady said to applause. 

Zelenska also emphasized the new power of women:

“The war against my country – unprovoked, cynical and brutal – contradicts all human aspirations. It instantly turns progress into repression and life into death. However, after we opened our eyes, which were closed in horror, we saw something new: we saw the new power of women.”

On March 8, Olena Zelenska received the Torch of Freedom award from the forum, which was presented to her by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Earlier, she met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who promised to allocate $4 million to Zelenska’s foundation to build orphanages.

Author: Daria Skotchenko

Photo: Woman Magazine press service