US First Lady Jill Biden Meets Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska in Ukraine
Published Date: 5/8/2022
Source: VOA News
U.S. first lady Jill Biden meets Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, May 8, 2022, at a school sheltering civilians displaced by the conflict. Jill Biden's press secretary Michael LaRosa posted a video on Twitter. _________ READ MORE: U.S. first lady Jill Biden made a surprise visit Sunday to Ukraine, where she met with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska at a school that has been converted into a shelter for people fleeing violence and Russian bombing elsewhere in the country. Biden crossed the Slovakia-Ukraine border into the city of Uzhhorod in the southwestern corner of the country after visiting with Ukrainian refugees who fled their homeland to Slovakia. Zelenska, the 44-year-old wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been in hiding, along with their two children, since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 10 weeks ago. Zelenska stepped out of a black SUV that was guarded by a Ukrainian soldier. Biden handed her flowers on Mother’s Day and the two hugged before meeting in a small side room at the shelter. “I wanted to come on Mother’s Day,” Biden said. “We thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people that this war has to stop, and this war has been brutal. And the people of the U.S. stand with the people of Ukraine.” “We feel it,” Zelenska responded. “First of all, I would like to thank you for a very courageous act,” Zelenska said. “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.” “We all feel your support and we all feel the leadership of the U.S. president, but we would like to note that the Mother’s Day is a very symbolic day for us because we also feel your love and support during such an important day.” (AFP/AP/VOA) _________ LINK: https://www.voanews.com/a/us-first-lady-jill-biden-makes-surprise-visit-into-ukraine-/6562730.html » Subscribe to VOA News: https://bit.ly/3KIPysi » Watch more VOA News video: https://www.youtube.com/c/VOANews Voice of America (VOA) is the largest U.S. international broadcaster, providing news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of 236.8 million people. VOA produces content for digital, television, and radio platforms. It is easily accessed via your mobile phone and on social media. It is also distributed by satellite, cable, FM and MW, and is carried on a network of approximately 3,000 affiliate stations. Since its creation in 1942, Voice of America has been committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth. Through World War II, the Cold War, the fight against global terrorism, and the struggle for freedom around the globe today, VOA exemplifies the principles of a free press. Connect with VOA News: » VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.voanews.com/ » LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/voiceofamerica » FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/voanews/ » FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/VOANews