Today at 16:03
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska was included in the annual list of the most influential and inspiring women in the world, Woman of the Year 2023, according to the Financial Times.
According to Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who wrote a column about the First Lady of Ukraine, she admires Olena Zelenska’s honesty the most.
“Four months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she told a journalist: “None of us are OK.” She knows what it is like to wake up to see your homeland invaded by an imperialist neighbor; not to know when, or if, you will next see your loved ones; how to find the strength to fight for freedom, despite it all,” the Prime Minister of Estonia noted.
Kaja Kallas is convinced that the First Lady of Ukraine has become a global symbol of resilience, just like her husband.
The head of the Estonian government noted that Olena Zelenska shows leadership in addressing the issues of mental health of Ukrainians during the war.
“Her work shining a light on the suffering and deportations of Ukrainian children by Russia brings back memories of my own family history; Russians deported my mother to Siberia when she was a baby,” Kaja Kalla said.
Along with Olena Zelenska, the Financial Times list of the 25 most influential women in the world includes actress and producer Margot Robbie, singer Beyoncé, writer Barbara Kingsolver, designer Phoebe Philo, writer Lola Shoneyin, actress and singer Alia Bhatt, South Korean female band Aespa, Interim CEO of OpenAI Mira Murati, President and CEO of Suntory Beverage and Food Makiko Ono, CEO of Air Protein Lisa Dyson, CEO of UPS Carol Tome, Minister of Finance of Switzerland Karin Keller-Sutter, Chief Sustainability Officer at Kering Marie-Claire Daveu, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change of Brazil Marina Silva, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, CEO of General Motors Mary Barra, CEO of Ernst & Young LLP Janet Truncale, activist Narges Mohammadi, American tennis player Coco Gauff, Spanish football player Jenni Hermoso, lawyer and career diplomat Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, whistleblower Chen Chien-Jou, Hungarian biochemist Katalin Karikó.
