Ukraine's First Lady reveals how war has transformed her relations with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, has opened up about how her relationship with her husband, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has changed.

Source: Zelenska in an interview with the Daily Mail

Details: Zelenska says their 20-year marriage is stronger than ever.

"I think I didn't let him down, and he never lets me down," she said.

Although they don’t see each other frequently – she and her two children, 20-year-old Sasha and 11-year-old Kyrylo, have been living apart during the war – each reunion is a cherished moment.

"We're never tired of each other, we never bore each other. And it makes the family stronger, too. It's not a normal life for any person to live in a country at war. It's a constant psychological burden and pressure. I hope when this pressure is relieved, with our victory, we will be able to stay sane and we'll be fine. However, now I think that we are as close as ever emotionally," Zelenska added.

Olena believes that love alone is not enough for happiness.

"And we understand each other very well. In fact, it is very important that you can respect your nearest and dearest. I am sure love is not enough. And I am happy that I can respect my husband because it would have been very hard to stay with him, even given huge love, if I hadn't believed in his honesty," she said.

Zelenska said she was proud of her husband's resilience.

"In the terrifying days, weeks and months at the start of the war, I didn't doubt for a second the way he'd behave. But I am even more proud of his resilience. This is a long-lasting marathon. He's managing, and I pray that he does not lose his power and strength, because we need him as he is, strong and stubborn," she said.

The First Lady also commented on her husband's desire to catch carp in the Dnipro River after the war.

"It is a very interesting thing about the carp. Let me put it this way. I hate cleaning fish. In my family it was a tradition that the one who fishes is the one who cleans and fries the fish. But when Volodymyr catches a carp, I promise to clean and cook that fish, because that would mean victory is here. And in the meantime, I will think about some carp recipes!," added Olena.

Zelenska also said she would never have thought she would become the president's wife.

"But to be honest, when we were young, I didn't expect him to become a TV star and then a movie actor, either. Each turn in our journey made me stronger and demanded development from me. And I thank him for that," the first lady concluded.

Background:

In May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that he rarely saw his children and called them "the happiest moments".

Zelenska once said that her daughter was busy studying but had no plans for the future.

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