The wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky is a strong supporter of her husband. He has continued to campaign for the welfare of children even during the war.
Life is sometimes more wonderful than the twists and turns of a TV series. Few can tell the story of the Ukrainian presidential couple.
Before the 2019 elections Volodymyr Zelenskyi was an actress and TV performer, his wife I’m a screenwriter and producer at the couple’s joint Kvartal 95 production company.
He is said to have greatly influenced, among other things, the role of Volodymyr Zelensky, who presented the president, in the series Servant of the People in Arena. Vasyl Holoborodkon the character is partly described as the creation of the first woman in Ukraine.
Zelensky’s inner circle describes the woman behind both the fictitious and real-life presidents as exceptionally strong. Ms. Zelenska has previously wanted to stay in the background, maintain her privacy, and focus her attention on her spouse.
The deliberately chosen background role became more prominent when the 2019 elections took the couple to the president’s official residence in Kiev.
The couple seems to be united by mutual humor. According to Zelenska, his spouse’s presidential candidacy came to his attention last among Ukrainians.
– When I asked why he didn’t tell me about his political aspirations, he said he didn’t remember, said Ms. Zelenska in an interview with Vogue.
The pace of action movies pales in the twists and turns of reality
Earlier this week, President Zelenskyi mentioned in an interview with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that he regularly spoke to world leaders, including the British Prime Minister. To Boris Johnson and the President of France Emmanuel Macronille.
Most often and preferably, however, the president exchanges news in a literally risky long-distance relationship with his wife.
Ms Zelenskyi, like every Ukrainian woman, is concerned about her spouse’s safety.
The couple became acquainted during their studies
Born in Kiev, 44-year-old Zelenska is a graduate of the University of Kryvyi Rih. President Volodymyr Zelensky and his future spouse attended the same school, but they did not meet at the time, and the couple only met during their studies.
Ukraine’s first woman took on a public role even before the war. He worked in several organizations and campaigned for the internationalization and wider spread of the Ukrainian language, among other things.
Olena Zelenska, like many other Ukrainians, seems fearless in her will to defend the country.
President Zelenskyi has repeatedly said he is number one on Russia’s kill list, second only to his wife.
Children’s health and education have been of interest to Ms Zelenska even before the Russian invasion. As the president’s wife, she has promoted, among other things, school meals.
– In western Ukraine, apples are likely to rot on the tree because there is no market for them. In some countries, a glass of milk is given as a snack. Why there couldn’t be an apple a day for a child in our country, he pondered in an interview with Nation Post.
Relatively clean public image
Ms Zelenskyi has largely escaped the negative publicity surrounding her position.
In 2013, he was suspected of buying a luxury villa in Crimea from a Ukrainian businessman From Oleksandr Buryak half the market price.
The President’s Office denied the ambiguities surrounding the trade. The property remained in the Crimea after Russia conquered the peninsula in 2014.
Olena Zelenska said in an interview with Ukrainian Vogue that she has not changed during the presidency but the circumstances are. Privacy is only in the bathroom, there is security elsewhere.
As of the third week of February, privacy has been further reduced and security has increased.
Zelensky’s two children have been kept out of the public for safety reasons. Oleksandra is 17 years old and Kyrylo 9 years old.
Also used as sources: Washington Post, People, Vogue Ukraine, Nation Post, France24