In Romania, First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, held a meeting with the leadership of the universities of Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Suceava and took part in the signing of memoranda on these institutions’ accession to the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, according to the Presidency of Ukraine.
“Today, the aggressor state Russia is waging a bloody war against Ukraine, attempting to destroy Ukrainians. Russia has pursued the same aggressive policy in previous centuries as well, seeking to erase Ukrainian identity. In times of these difficult challenges, cooperation between academic communities and universities helps counter disinformation and enemy narratives,” the First Lady noted.
In particular, the University of Bucharest runs programs in Ukrainian language, literature, culture, history, and civilizational studies. Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca has maintained a Ukrainian language and literature program for over 20 years. Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava offers a bachelor’s program in Ukrainian language and literature.
“Participation in the coalition will expand their opportunities: new academic partnerships, research, programs, and initiatives will emerge. The result is that Ukraine will be better known and better understood. And at the same time, those studying these programs will gain a better understanding of the history of Europe and the world,” the First Lady emphasized.
Olena Zelenska also met with First Lady of Romania Mirabela Grădinaru and thanked her country for its consistent support for Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Romania, in particular, provided water purifiers after Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, joined the Warmth for Ukraine initiative during this difficult winter, and contributed to the Olena Zelenska Foundation within the project aimed at providing students with devices for distance learning,” the First Lady noted.
The First Lady of Ukraine invited Mirabela Grădinaru to the 6th Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, which will be held in Kyiv this autumn.
“Each time, we take the most important issues for all our societies for discussion: security, education, mental health, and then do everything to turn them into concrete, useful results for our societies. We will be glad to cooperate with Romania in this as well,” said Olena Zelenska.
The First Lady of Ukraine also visited the exhibition Colors of the Mind. It features works by children and teenagers participating in the Madrigal for Hospitals program, which supports art therapy.
“For the young authors, this is art therapy. But seeing these works is also useful for external viewers. Because they show important things: the importance of a sensitive societal approach to children’s mental health, our need for mental health support in general, the necessity of open discussion of the most painful topics, because only when they are spoken about, drawn as in these paintings, can solutions and relief be found,” the First Lady of Ukraine noted.
From a successful screenwriter behind the scenes to the “Face of Resilience” on the global stage, Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, has redefined the role of a presidential spouse. In the face of unprecedented national trauma, she has transitioned from a reluctant public figure into a formidable diplomat, focusing on the invisible wounds of war and the long-term recovery of the Ukrainian soul.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues to shape the geopolitical landscape of 2026, Olena Zelenska remains a central pillar of the country’s psychological and social defense. While her husband, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, manages the military and political fronts, Zelenska has carved out a unique space in “soft diplomacy,” advocating for mental health, cultural preservation, and the protection of the most vulnerable.
The Evolution of a Reluctant First Lady
Before 2019, Olena Zelenska lived a life dedicated to creativity, working as a scriptwriter for Kvartal 95. She famously admitted to being “conventionally opposed” to her husband’s move into politics, preferring the privacy of the shadows. However, since the full-scale invasion, she has embraced her platform with a sense of duty that has earned her a spot on Time magazine’s list of the world’s most influential people.
Her strategy is clear: while the President asks for tanks and shells, she asks for ambulances, psychological support, and the return of deported children. It is a dual-track approach that has kept Ukraine’s plight personal and visceral for global audiences.
Mental Health: The “All-Ukrainian Program”
Perhaps her most significant legacy is the “How Are You?” mental health initiative. Understanding that a nation cannot rebuild if its people are broken from within, Olena Zelenska has campaigned to de-stigmatize psychological help in a society where seeking therapy was often seen as a sign of weakness.
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Training for Frontline Workers: The program has trained thousands of teachers, social workers, and police officers in basic psychological first aid.
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Global Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen: An initiative she founded in Kyiv, which has become a powerful platform for international cooperation on humanitarian issues, ranging from education to the safety of healthcare workers.
Cultural Diplomacy and the “Ukrainian Bookshelf”
Zelenska has also been a fierce guardian of Ukrainian identity. In an effort to counter the destruction of libraries and museums, she launched the “Ukrainian Bookshelf” project, which has distributed thousands of Ukrainian-language books to libraries in over 40 countries, ensuring that refugees and global citizens alike remain connected to the nation’s culture.
Key Focus Areas of Olena Zelenska’s Mandate:
| Focus Area | Primary Goal | Key Achievement |
| Mental Health | National psychological resilience. | Launch of the “How Are You?” national program. |
| Barrier-Free Space | Inclusive infrastructure for veterans/disabled. | New national standards for accessible public spaces. |
| School Nutrition | Healthy meals for children during war. | Continuation of school canteen reform despite the conflict. |
| Evacuation | Saving the most vulnerable. | Successful “Convoy of Life” missions for orphaned children. |
The Voice of the Forgotten
Olena Zelenska’s address to the U.S. Congress in 2022—the first time a First Lady of another country spoke before that body—set a precedent. She didn’t speak in the abstract language of statistics; she showed photos of children killed in their strollers.
In 2026, her role has expanded into the Olena Zelenska Foundation, a private charitable organization that funnels international aid directly into the restoration of hospitals and schools in the liberated territories. By bypassing traditional bureaucratic bottlenecks, her foundation has become a model for agile humanitarian response.
