LISBON: Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska said on Wednesday her war-torn country will be in trouble if the world's solidarity starts to fade, but added she still believes humanity will prevail and support will continue.
A cost-of-living crisis, including soaring energy bills, is topping Europe's political agenda and some fear this is slowly diverting attention away from the conflict shattering Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February.
"I don't want to believe that support (for Ukraine) is fading. I believe it won't diminish," Zelenska told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of Europe's largest tech event, Lisbon's Web Summit.
"I believe common sense, empathy, human emotions and relations will win," she added, urging people to think about the world they want to live in the future.
"If that's wrong, we are in trouble."
Russian forces swept into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in a conflict that has since killed thousands of people, displaced more than eight million, laid waste to cities and towns and reopened Cold War-era divisions.
Russia calls the conflict a "special military operation" to eliminate dangerous nationalists and protect Russian speakers in its fellow former Soviet republic. Kyiv calls Moscow's invasion an unprovoked imperialist land grab.
"If someone thinks that aggression can be justified...this person is under the influence of propaganda," Zelenska said.
Since the start of the invasion, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has used her role to help maintain diplomatic relations with world leaders and raise awareness of the human cost of the war.
She said there were no textbooks "that could teach you how to be a president's wife", particularly during a war.
"I can't say I wanted to be the centre of attention but every voice in this information war is important. If I'm heard, I will use this opportunity."
The European Union last month gave its final approval for a new batch of sanctions against Russia that are meant to ultimately undermine Moscow's reserves and its resolve to continue the war.
Asked what will it take to stop Russia, Zelenska said sanctions "can't be stopped and only have to be strengthened".
"We would like Western countries to continue on this path," she said. "The more the financial pressure and sanctions are put on the aggressor, the less opportunities they will have to wage a war against Ukraine.
"We hope this will work."
Reuters
Thu Nov 03 2022
Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, speaks during an interview with Reuters, at Web Summit, Europe's largest technology conference, in Lisbon, Portugal, November 2, 2022. - REUTERS
PM Vietnam cadang ASEAN jadi model transformasi digital global
Perdana Menteri Vietnam mencadangkan orientasi kejayaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai model dalam transformasi digital di peringkat global.
Proses bedah siasat selesai, penghormatan terakhir mengikut tradisi tentera laut
Ridauddin Daud membawakan perkembangan terkini penghomatan terakhir kepada 10 mangsa insiden helikopter TLDM yang terhempas di Lumut.
[TERKINI] Anak menteri besar antara enam direman bersabit kes tuntutan palsu
Anak seorang menteri besar, Pegawai kanan Pejabat MB antara enam yang direman bagi bantu siasatan pemalsuan dokumen dan tuntutan palsu berjumlah RM600,000.
Agong berkenan meriahkan Majlis Sulaman Kasih Aidilfitri Kementerian Perpaduan
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim hari ini berkenan memeriahkan Majlis Sulaman Kasih Aidifitri Kementerian Perpaduan Negara.
[KOLUMNIS] Kawalan kendiri dapat perkukuh penguatkuasaan undang-undang AI
Tanpa kawalan kendiri, undang-undang mungkin menjadi tidak berkesan termasuklah dalam persoalan impak AI terhadap masyarakat.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Proses bedah siasat 10 mangsa selesai - TLDM
Proses bedah siasat melibatkan 10 mangsa nahas helikopter terhempas di Lumut yang dijalankan di Jabatan Forensik Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) selesai pada jam 2.20 petang Rabu.
AWANI Ringkas: Suspek kes tembak KLIA didakwa
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Jamaica secara rasmi iktiraf Palestin sebagai sebuah negara
Jamaica memutuskan untuk mengiktiraf secara rasmi Negara Palestin pada Selasa berikutan perbincangan dalam Kabinet pada hari sebelumnya.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Van jenazah tiba di HRPB, bawa jenazah ke 23 RAMD
Sebanyak 10 van jenazah Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) dilihat memasuki perkarangan Jabatan Forensik Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB), Ipoh pada jam 2.20 petang Rabu.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Kesemua mangsa diberikan penghormatan terakhir ikut istiadat TLDM
Kesemua mangsa tragedi helikopter terhempas di Pangkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) Lumut, semalam akan diberi penghormatan terakhir mengikut istiadat rasmi TLDM.
Negara sedang berperang, isteri Presiden Ukraine Olena Zelenska jadi 'cover' majalah Vogue
Nama Presiden Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky dan isterinya Olena Zelenska sedang menjadi perbualan dunia.
Ukraine: Sudah masanya mulakan proses pemulihan - Olena
Wanita Pertama Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, sudah mula melihat dan merancang masa depan untuk Ukraine.
Jill Biden buat lawatan mengejut ke Ukraine
Wanita pertama Amerika Syarikat, Jill Biden membuat lawatan mengejut ke Ukraine pada Ahad untuk menunjukkan sokongan kepada rakyat negara itu.