Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska meets Akshata Murty, PM Rishi Sunak's wife at Downing st on Monday
(Picture: REUTERS)Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska pleaded with millions of people in Britain not to “forget about our tragedy” this Christmas as Vladimir Putin’s war continues to inflict death, destruction and suffering on her country.
Ahead of addressing Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, Mrs Zelenska issued the appeal and urged nations in the West to carry on delivering vital aid to combat Putin’s missiles onslaught on infrastructure in towns and cities which he has unleashed to seek to break the resolve of the Ukrainian people and government.
“My message for the British is as follows: It’s not just a war for our freedom and our lives,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“This is the war of opposing world views, the war for the values. It’s important that these are preserved. This is a fight for the truth and human values.”
She stressed: “We do hope that the approaching season of Christmas doesn’t make you forget about our tragedy and get used to our suffering.”
She praised the support given to Ukraine by Britain which has been at the forefront of efforts to deliver military, economic and political support to Kyiv.
Rishi Sunak made his first visit as Prime Minister to Kyiv just days ago to meet Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Boris Johnson won praise as Prime Minister from Mr Zelensky for the leadership role he took to back Ukraine against Putin’s war.
Mrs Zelenska emphasised: “We feel that [strong support] by the aid for our forcefully displaced people, by the political and financial assistance and by humanitarian aid we are receiving from the British.
“Ukrainians are very tired of this war, but we have no choice in the matter. We are fighting for our very lives. The British public do have a choice. They can get used to our tragedy, concentrate on their own important things in life.”
On Monday, Ms Zelenska visited Downing Street and met the prime minister’s wife, Akshata Murty.
Ukraine will be top of the agenda once again when Foreign Secretary James Cleverly travels to Romania this week for a meeting of Nato allies.
The gathering of Nato foreign ministers in Bucharest is expected to discuss on how to continue support for Ukraine throughout the cold winter months.
Mr Cleverly, who will reaffirm UK support for the country in the fight against Russia, will also be involved in discussions on how the UK and Nato can solidify support to countries where Russia is accused of exerting a destabilising influence.
Mr Cleverly said: “With Russia’s war disrupting peace in Europe it’s vital that Nato and its allies look closely at how we shore up our defences to handle the challenges we face today.
“We are united in the long-term objective of supporting Ukraine and further strengthening Nato as a defensive alliance.
“The UK and its Allies will continue to show collective strength in dealing with the complex issues the world faces today, as we are doing in Bucharest today.”
Mr Cleverly will travel to Poland after the Nato meeting for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s ministerial council on Thursday.
