Tokyo hosted the Ukraine-Japan Forum on Ukraine’s economic recovery. The event was attended by representatives of governments, businesses, and international organizations. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, and one of the key speakers was First Lady Olena Zelenska.
In her speech, she emphasized that reconstruction should include not only the physical restoration of the destroyed infrastructure, but also support for the people who make up this country. According to Zelenska, human capital is one of the main resources for recovery.
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“It is necessary to restore houses and businesses, but not enough. Because they are not needed if people do not live in them, if people do not work in them. We have a saying: “Restore a person, and a person will restore everything,” the First Lady said.
She reminded that despite Russia’s daily attacks, Ukrainians continue to study, work and implement humanitarian initiatives. In particular, Zelenska cited the example of school nutrition reform: a thousand renovated kitchens, 6,500 trained chefs, and free daily lunches for primary school students.
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She also spoke about the work of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, which is creating shelters in schools, educational spaces in hospitals, homes for foster families, and psychosocial hubs for teenagers. According to her, this is not only about basic needs, but also about a sense of care, security, and confidence in the future.
“Ukrainians, both young and old, have the right to live a quality, safe, caring life – not ‘someday’ but right now,” Zelenska emphasized.
She also thanked Japan for its wartime support of Ukraine – financial, humanitarian and technical.
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