Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska Visits the United States

When Russia invaded Ukraine, First Lady Olena Zelenska immediately went into hiding with her two children. Her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, lives in the President's office, but it is too dangerous for his family to stay with him.

For the first few months of the war, Zelenska kept an extremely low profile, but she made her first public appearance since the invasion began when U.S. First Lady Jill Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine in early May.

"I would like to thank you for a very courageous act," Zelenska said to Biden during her visit. "Because we understand what it takes for the U.S. first lady to come here during a war when the military actions are taking place every day, where the air sirens are happening every day even today."

Since Zelenska met with FLOTUS, she has taken on a more public role—and now, she journeyed to the United States at the invitation of Dr. Biden.

"Mrs. Biden visited Ukraine in May in order to see and communicate with those who lost their homes and loved ones due to the war. Now it's my turn to speak in the US about Ukrainian needs in our resistance and fight against the aggressor," Zelenska said in a statement.

Here, a recap of Olena Zelenska trip to the United States.

Day 1: Monday, July 18, 2022

On her first day in Washington, D.C., she went to the State Department to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement on Monday that Blinken "emphasized the United States' comprehensive and enduring commitment to support Ukraine's victory in Russia's unjust and unprovoked war" in their meeting. Price added that Blinken and Zelenska also "spoke about the immense and growing human costs of Russia's full-scale invasion."

"We discussed the urgent and escalating health care needs of the Ukrainian people, including the First Lady’s work to make mental health support widely available," Power tweeted regarding their meeting.

After, Zelenska visited Holodomor Genocide Memorial in downtown Washington, D.C., to commemorate the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933. There, she met with representatives of the Ukrainian community in the U.S.

"Visiting this place, which resonates so much with our tragic present, where Russia is trying to destroy Ukraine once again, I faced a true ray of light: A meeting with the Ukrainian community in the USA," Zelenska said. "These are people who, even thousands of kilometers from their homeland, remember who they are, know the language, who voluntarily responded to the Russian attack in the first ranks and rushed to help their homeland and compatriots."

She also visited Ukrainian House to meet with participants of the Prosthetics Program, created for Ukrainians who lost their limbs during the war.

Day 2: Tuesday, July 19, 2022

On her second day in D.C., Zelenska went to the White House, where she reunited with Dr. Biden. There, Zelenska was also joined by Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova.

President Biden gifted Zelenska a bouquet with sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine, which have become a symbol of solidarity. In addition, the table at which Zelenska and Dr. Biden held their meeting featured floral centerpieces full of sunflowers.

According to the White House, during their meeting, the first ladies "will discuss the United States' continued support for the government of Ukraine and its people as they defend their democracy and cope with the significant human impacts of Russia's war, which will be felt for years to come." They were joined by numerous other White House officials, including Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff.

Also today, Zelenska accepted a human rights award from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation on behalf of the people of Ukraine. "It is an honor to be here and accept this award in the name of every Ukrainian man and woman fighting Russian aggression today," she said through a translator.

Day 3: July 20, 2022

Zelenska is scheduled to deliver remarks to members of Congress at 11 a.m. Eastern. Her husband, President Zelensky, addressed Congress virtually in March.

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