Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department on Monday as she begins a trip to the United States that will see her address congressional lawmakers and visit the White House.
During the first lady’s first event in Washington on Monday, Blinken and Zelenska discussed the humanitarian toll of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the U.S.’s commitment to rebuilding the war-torn country, according to the State Department. Zelenska also met with Samantha Power, the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and discussed healthcare needs in Ukraine and the future recovery of the country. Zelenska, who is reportedly not traveling as an official representative of the Ukrainian government, is also scheduled to meet with first lady Jill Biden at the White House on Tuesday and speak to lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
“The Secretary and First Lady Zelenska spoke about the immense and growing human costs of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The Secretary strongly condemned Russia’s brutal attacks, which continue to wound and kill innocent civilians and destroy homes, hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure — including a July 14 strike on Vinnytsya that killed three children,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
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Price added that Blinken commended Zelenska’s work helping Ukrainians affected by the war, including citizens afflicted with mental health problems as a result of Russia’s invasion.
“He reiterated that the United States will continue to provide assistance to help Ukraine respond to the significant economic and humanitarian challenges it faces,” Price said.
Zelenska’s meeting with Power touched on similar topics, according to USAID spokeswoman Shejal Pulivarti, with Power also affirming the U.S.’s “unwavering support for a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine, free and secure in its internationally-recognized borders.”
The agency has provided $4 billion in direct budgetary aid to Ukraine since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion.
Next up for Zelenska is a scheduled meeting with Jill Biden at the White House on Tuesday. The two previously met on Mother’s Day when Biden traveled to Ukraine and met with Zelenska at a school being used as temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees.
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also announced on Monday that Zelenska will deliver remarks in the congressional auditorium of the Capitol Visitor Center on Wednesday to any House or Senate member who wishes to attend. Pelosi traveled with a congressional delegation to Kyiv in May to meet with Zelenska’s husband, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelenska, 44, and her two children went into hiding at the start of Russia’s invasion, but she has since become a visible advocate for Ukrainians suffering psychological problems as a result of the nearly five-month-long conflict.
