Olena Zelenska reveals the war's impact on her marriage with President Zelenskyy
In an interview with Lord Michael Ashcroft, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska discussed how the war has impacted her marriage with President Volodymyr Zelensky as they approach their 21st wedding anniversary in September.
"We’ve grown closer and stronger because we’ve supported each other the way we needed to. War is a constant psychological burden. We don’t see each other as often as we’d like, so every meeting is a joy. I don’t think I’ve let him down, and he’s never let me down. We never get tired or bored of each other, which strengthens our family. Living in a country at war is an abnormal life. Hopefully, when that pressure lifts with our victory, we can stay sane and be fine. Right now, we’re emotionally closer than ever, and we understand each other very well. It’s vital to respect your loved ones—I’m sure love alone isn’t enough. I’m happy I can respect my husband, because it would be hard to stay with him, even with great love, if I didn’t believe in his integrity. I’m proud of him. During the terrible early days of the war, I never doubted how he would act. This is a long marathon. He’s coping, and I pray he doesn’t lose his strength, because we need him strong and determined,” said First Lady Olena Zelenska.
Zelenska added that her pride in her husband is paired with anxiety for his safety and their family’s well-being. “I hope everything possible has been done for his safety and ours... I don’t want to dwell on the negative. I dread thinking about it. Everyone gets tired; everyone wants to keep hope alive — and that takes effort," she said. On Sept. 12, Zelenska will host the fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv, focused on children's safety.
She also commented on the president’s wish to catch carp in the Dnipro after the war. “He’s really into carp. I hate cleaning fish, but when Volodymyr catches one, I promise to clean and cook it, because that will mean victory has come. In the meantime, I’ll think about recipes,” she said.
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