Over the weekend, US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden made an unannounced trip to Ukraine as the country continues to resist Russia’s aggression. During her visit, Dr. Biden also met with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska.
Dr. Biden made an unannounced visit to Ukraine Sunday in another show of support to Ukraine from the US. Dr. Biden visited an abandoned school that was used as a temporary shelter for 163 displaced Ukrainians, including 47 children, according to the Washington Post. This comes as Dr. Biden was visiting Romania and Slovakia when she made the unannounced trip to Ukraine.
“I thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people that this war has to stop and this war has been brutal and that the people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine,” said Dr. Biden.
The first lady also visited Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, who made her first public appearance since Russia invaded Ukraine back on February 24. Zelenska said Dr. Biden was courageous for visiting.
“We understand what it takes for the US first lady to come here during a war when the military actions are taking place every day, where the air sirens are happening every day even today,” said Zelenska through an interpreter.
Dr. Biden’s visit to Ukraine follows several high-ranking US officials who traveled to Kyiv in the past two weeks: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Ahead of her visit to the region, Dr. Biden revealed that she received a letter from Zelenska in her interview with MSNBC’s Symone Sanders that aired Saturday. Dr. Biden shared that the letter from the Ukrainian first lady had a list of things that were needed.
“They need so much. They have so many children without parents, so many orphans that need childcare, that need clothing, that need health supplies. They need food,” said Dr. Biden. “I mean, they need so much. And so, she gave me a list and we’re working on it.”
Dr. Biden also shared that she spoke with Polish first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda ahead of her trip as she intends to spend Mother’s Day with displaced Ukrainian families.