Zelenska criticises international inaction for Ukrainian children

During a seven-minute speech at the 9th edition of the Estoril Conferences, Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska stressed that the “most painful observation” of the conflict triggered by the Russian invasion in 2022, “is the systematic deportation of Ukrainian children”.

According to Zelenska, “the taking of 19,000 children to Russia is an act witnessed by the world that met with inadequate action”.

“As we engage in these discussions today, we must critically evaluate the effectiveness of international organisations and their responses, or rather their inaction,” criticised the Ukrainian first lady, during her presentation.

Alongside her criticism of the international community’s inaction, Olena Zelenska used the motto of the Estoril Conferences, ‘Time to Rethink’, to stress that “prolonged reflection can lead to danger” and that the “time spent in discussion must translate into tangible results”.

“As we engage in meaningful discussions today, let’s focus on tangible results. This is not just about Ukraine. It’s about the collective security of our global community. No crime is too distant to concern us all and every act of violence poses a threat to our shared humanity. The actions we choose to take today will shape our collective future. If we commit to action, we can bring peace closer and defend the principles of coexistence in the face of adversity,” said the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenska also noted that Ukraine is currently reassessing the importance of everyday aspects that have become more challenging due to the Russian invasion. She illustrated this with the example of how easy it used to be to call a taxi to the airport, catch a flight, and arrive in Portugal in just four hours.

“In stark contrast, a Russian missile can hit a peaceful home in Kharkiv in just 30 seconds… No more than two minutes are given to stop the bleeding of a person wounded by a bombing. The urgency of war reshapes our understanding of time. Critical decisions must be made in seconds, while the agony of enduring war stretches time into an endless ordeal,” she said.

The Ukrainian first lady also took the opportunity to thank Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for his participation in the first global peace summit, which took place in Switzerland, and also the president of East Timor, José Ramos-Horta, who was in Estoril this Thursday.

Olena Zelenska was welcomed by the Portuguese president and received applause from the audience both before and after her speech at the Estoril Conferences, which will end on Friday.