During a visit to the Kingdom of Denmark, Olena Zelenska met with Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bødskov, Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen and representatives of the country's business community.
The President's wife thanked for Denmark's leadership in financial assistance to our country and for the establishment of the Ukraine Support Fund. Its funds will be used to restore schools, hospitals, bomb shelters, water, heat and power supply, as well as to revitalize the Ukrainian economy and support the population of the war-affected territories, primarily Mykolaiv.
Denmark has taken a leading role in the restoration of this city: On March 7, 2023, a memorandum of partnership between Denmark, Mykolaiv and Mykolaiv region was signed, which stipulates that Danish-Ukrainian cooperation will be carried out in eight areas: infrastructure, good governance, maritime industry, transport, urban planning, small and medium-sized business development, green transition, youth and culture.
The First Lady spoke about the activities of the Olena Zelenska Foundation and the challenges the foundation seeks to address.
"The aggressor is terrorizing the civilian population of Ukraine on a daily basis, targeting residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, critical and civilian infrastructure. In particular, last Saturday, the aggressor hit the center of Chernihiv with a missile, killing seven people, including one child, and injuring 148 people, including 15 children.
"Today, millions of Ukrainians need treatment, rehabilitation, and humanitarian aid; medical and educational infrastructure needs to be restored. That is why the foundation's team and I have focused on three important areas of work: humanitarian aid, education and medicine," Olena Zelenska said.
She expressed hope that in Denmark, which has consistently helped our country, the Foundation will find new like-minded people to rebuild Ukraine.
The First Lady also visited Mary Elizabeth's Hospital - Rigshospitalet for Children, Teens and Expecting Families in Copenhagen. The President's wife visited the medical institution together with Minister for the Interior and Health of Denmark Sophie Løhde and project director of the hospital Merete Lang.
"I am especially grateful to Denmark and its medical institutions that provide treatment and rehabilitation to wounded Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who receive effective comprehensive care in the best hospitals in Denmark," Olena Zelenska emphasized.
During the medical evacuation program from Ukraine (since March 2022), 131 patients have been taken to Denmark, including 59 military personnel and four children with mine-blast injuries. The Kingdom also accepted 62 patients with cancer (most with skin melanoma) for treatment.
The First Lady of Ukraine invited Sophie Løhde and Merete Lang to participate in the first conference of health ministers from around the world under the patronage of the Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen to be held in Kyiv on September 6.
"The war in Ukraine has also changed European medicine. There are more challenges for everyone. Only cooperation to save lives can be the answer to common threats to life," Olena Zelenska emphasized.
She said that this is why Ukraine is initiating an international medical partnership program. This means that each interested country can establish direct cooperation with a specific hospital in Ukraine by choosing a suitable institution on its part.
"We propose to consider establishing direct cooperation under this program between the Mary Elizabeth's Hospital for Children, Teens and Expecting Families (Copenhagen, Denmark) and the Kyiv Regional Children's Hospital (Boyarka, Ukraine). We propose cooperation between these medical institutions, as the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen has a unique experience in integrated services for mothers and children. Not only children and adolescents, but also pregnant women receive care at this hospital, which ensures a continuous monitoring process and the possibility of early detection of many problems and diseases," the First Lady emphasized.
As part of the visit to Denmark, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena also had an audience with Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary.
Her Majesty is Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Danish Armed Forces and holds the rank of Major in the Air Force.
Olena Zelenska expressed her gratitude to the Queen for helping Ukraine and Ukrainians: "We will always be grateful for the support and understanding that our fight for life and freedom gets here."