Olea Zelenska smiles when she arrives at an interview at the Mariehamn Park Hotel. The smile is familiar with the pictures, but now the face shows special joy and liberation.
Is the second day of Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, and this spouse O, O, O, Zelenska’s visit to Finland, and we will meet in Åland.
Zelenskyit visited Finland last Wednesday. Olea Zelenska continued to visit on Thursday in Åland.
Zelenska says that the whole visit has been full of warmth and support.
– When I saw the face of people who support us, my hope became stronger. I understood how important the support is for the country suffering from war. I felt people understand us and were close to the emotional level. We understand what Russia’s threat means.
Zelenska says she has become close friends with her husband Volodymyr Zelensky with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne InseS-Stubb.
– We know their friendship. We have a great mutual relationship. It feels really good, says Zelenska.
Zelenska and Inses Stubb had their own program during the visit. Zelenska says that their friendship deepened even during the visit.
– I have a sincere, warm relationship with him and many plans for the future. We are both active presidential spouses, and we are already planning a summit for September in Kiev, says Zelenska.
Zelenska got to know Finnish school and school meals, which was particularly important to her.
– We are currently renewing the school meal of Ukrainian schools. I got good practical examples of Finnish solutions.
The Kirkkonummi Sports Hall, which is also used as a civil protection, also impressed Zelenskka. The same space is used as both a gym and as a bomb protection.
“We want to apply this in the future in Ukraine,” says Zelenska.
The twists and turns of recent weeks
Zelenska was surprised by the sunny weather in Finland, but she was made by people even bigger. Their warmth and sincerity.
“The Finns made me feel that Finland is a true friend who shares our struggle,” says Zelenska.
At the same time as the presidential couple arrived in Finland on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin negotiated the possible ceasefire and peace of the war. In these negotiations, Ukraine initially missed a side role.
The twists and turns of recent weeks have been difficult especially for President Volodymyr Zelensky, but also for the whole Ukraine and, of course, the president’s spouse.
“It feels like everything has started from the beginning,” Zelenska sighs.
– You have to choose your word again and again. It is difficult not to hurt, not to be angry, but we must be patient to survive. We just have to continue talking about what happens.
In the video below, Ohea Zelenska tells what Finland’s visit meant for the presidential couple.
The war now continues for the fourth year. Zelenska wonders how the Ukrainians as a nation have been.
– Above all, we have proven to ourselves that we can survive. But emotional fluctuations have been heavy.
“The Ukrainians are now concerned about what will happen next and whether our partner will continue to help,” says Zelenska.
Currently, 80 % of Ukrainians suffer from stress disorders.
– Lack of sleep is heavy in the middle of everything. I can say it from my own experience.
“Finland’s visit was a huge sign of support”
According to Zelenska, a visit to Finland played a big role in this moment. He still relies on the support of Europeans to Ukraine and says that the visit to Finland strengthened this feeling.
– This visit was a huge sign of support for us. We see that European countries still support us both at a political level and at the level of civil society, he says.
– I really hope that most people still understand the price that Ukraine pays. People die. Nobody wants this war to end more than Ukraine.
As the most horrifying phenomenon of the war, Zelenska considers children stealing Russia.
The Ukrainian authorities estimate that the Russians have captured more than 19,500 Ukrainian children in Russia after the start of the war.
There has been some progress in getting children back. A year ago, Ukraine had managed to return 388 children, now Zelenska says that there are just over 1,000 returned children.
“The problem is that Russia will not share any information about children,” says Zelenska.
According to Zelenska, orphans children can completely disappear because Russia changes their names to the Russian form. When the name is recorded in the Russian register according to the Russian statement, the child is no longer found by name.
Zelenska has met children from Russia. They have told how they are taught, among other things, that Ukraine does not exist.
– It is psychologically very dangerous. We lose the children mentally, says Zelenska.
Zelenska collects that older children, in particular, have been trained in military terms and have been required to join the Russian army.
Ukraine has set up an international alliance with Canada to restore children. The alliance includes 41 countries.
The Zelensky family has had to live separately because of the war: Zelenska lives with the couple’s two children and a father elsewhere. During the first two months of the war, President Zelenskyi could not see his family at all for security reasons.
Despite the war and the constant safety threat, Zelenska and children also want to live in Ukraine.
What about the family’s plan B if something happens?
“We only have a plan A,” says Zelenska.
– This is difficult, but our president has energy and power. I believe everything will end well.
But what if something happens even worse?
“That’s what we decide then,” Zelenska says.
Zelenska will miss Finland.
– We had a really lovely two days. We got peace and support. They are with us when we return home, says Zelenska.
Olea Zelenska Foundation and Work
Olea Zelenska has set up a foundation for its name. It has built homes for large foster families who have taken orphaned children. The Foundation has also started several children’s support programs and the entire Ukraine mental health program.
Zelenska has also organized world leaders for spouses First Ladies and Gentlemen -Summit meetings four times. The topics of the meetings include mental health and education.
Next fall, the spouses of the presidents of different countries will meet again in Kiev.
Longer Special Interview with Olea Zelenska on Sunday program TV together 23.3.2025 at 6:45 pm and In the arena.