As part of the visit to the United States, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, D.C., in honor of the 184 victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters.
"We in Ukraine understand this pain well, because our country is experiencing daily terror against peaceful cities, homes, hospitals and community centers by Russia. We know how important it is to stop this evil so that no one else dies. Ukraine stands with the United States. The United States stands with Ukraine," the President's wife said.
In addition, Olena Zelenska visited Georgetown University. It is the oldest university in Washington, D.C., and the oldest Catholic university in the United States. It was founded in 1789.
Among the alumni are 12 heads of state, including the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton. In addition to Bill Clinton, Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service has been graduated by former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky, former White House spokesman Ned Price, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, and other high-ranking officials.
In 2022, Ukrainian students founded the Ukrainian Club at Georgetown University. It has 50 members, 20 of whom are ethnic Ukrainians.
The university administration maintains friendly relations with the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States. In particular, on the first anniversary of the start of full-scale Russian aggression, the university hoisted the Ukrainian flag on its main administrative building.
Olena Zelenska thanked the leadership of the institution and students for their solidarity with Ukraine in the fight against the invader. The President's wife noted: "In Ukraine, the school year began with air raids, with a risk to the lives of educators and students. People often ask: "What is Ukraine defending, what is it fighting for?" Actually, it is for this very thing. For young people to be able to study and live in their country in peace, not to die under bombs on their streets, and for teachers to be able to teach. I believe that with the support of all caring people in the world, future leaders like the Georgetown University students I met today, it will happen," she said.
The First Lady also opened a Ukrainian bookshelf at the university, donating books on the history of literature and more. Thus, the United States became the 40th country to participate in the First Lady's Ukrainian Bookshelf project, which has already donated 47,000 Ukrainian books to libraries around the world.
"Information about Ukraine comes not only from the news, but also from books, from our literature, history, philosophy - primary sources for long and thoughtful reading and understanding. For those who want to know more about us from us. Today I am pleased to open a shelf at the friendly Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where there are always many Ukrainian events and meetings. The future leaders of the United States and the free world study here, and their awareness is important not only for them, but also for the entire international community," Olena Zelenska emphasized.
