Olena Zelenska: Don't forget 'our tragedy' of Russian invasion this Christmas

'We are fighting for our very lives', Ukraine's first lady says during visit to London

Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska also praised the UK’s support for the Ukrainian war effort. Reuters

Ukraine's first lady has said people should not forget the country's war this Christmas, ahead of a speech to MPs on Tuesday.

During a visit to London, Olena Zelenska is expected to address MPs and peers on Tuesday, days after Rishi Sunak made his first visit as prime minister to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ms Zelenska will urge the British public not to forget the “tragedy” of the Russian invasion amid the approaching festive season.

She also praised the UK’s support for the Ukrainian resistance efforts against Vladimir Putin’s forces, as the country braces for winter.

“We feel that [strong support] by the aid for our forcefully displaced people, by the political and financial assistance and by humanitarian aid we are receiving from the British,” she told the programme.

“Ukrainians are very tired of this war, but we have no choice in the matter. We are fighting for our very lives. The British public do have a choice. They can get used to our tragedy, concentrate on their own important things in life.

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska visits Washington — in pictures

US President Joe Biden and US first lady Jill Biden welcome Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska and Ukrainian ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova at the White House in Washington. Reuters

US President Joe Biden and US first lady Jill Biden wait to welcome Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska to the White House in Washington. AFP

US President Joe Biden and US first lady Jill Biden welcomes Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska to the White House. AFP

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, greet Olena Zelenska, spouse of Ukrainian's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine's Ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, left, at the White House in Washington. AP

US President Joe Biden welcomes Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska at the White House in Washington. US

US first lady Jill Biden, second left, greets Olena Zelenska, spouse of Ukrainian's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second right, in the Blue Room at the White House in Washington. AP

US first lady Jill Biden meets with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska at the White House in Washington. Reuters

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska (R), with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arrives to speak to members of the US Congress in Washington. EPA

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska attends a meeting with members of the United States Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Reuters

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska speaks to members of the US Congress about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in the US Capitol Visitors Center Auditorium, in Washington. AFP

Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's first lady, asked US lawmakers for more weapons during an address to Congress. AFP

First lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska gives an address to members of the United States Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington. EPA

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska (C) greets members of US Congress after giving an address in Washington. AFP

Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, tours the Victims of Communism Museum with Andrew Bremberg, President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, left. AP

Olena Zelenska, spouse of Ukrainian's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accepts the Dissident Human Rights Award on behalf of the people of Ukraine for their fight against Russia from Dr. Edwin Feulner chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, at the Victims of Communism Museum in Washington. AP

Olena Zelenska, wife of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova, after attending a meeting at the US Agency for International Development building in Washington. Reuters

Ukraine first lady Olena Zelenska walks out of the State Departmen in Washington after meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a closed-to-press meeting. AP

“My message for the British is as follows: It’s not just a war for our freedom and our lives.

“This is the war of opposing worldviews, the war for the values. It’s important that these are preserved. This is a fight for the truth and human values.”

“We do hope that the approaching season of Christmas doesn’t make you forget about our tragedy and get used to our suffering.”

On Monday, Ms Zelenska visited Downing Street and met Akshata Murty, the wife of Mr Sunak.

The full interview is set to broadcast later on Tuesday morning.

Ukraine will be top of the agenda once again when British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly travels to Romania this week for a meeting of Nato allies.

The gathering of Nato foreign ministers in Bucharest is expected to discuss on how to continue support for Ukraine throughout the cold winter months.

Ukraine war latest — in pictures

The coffin of Valeriy Krasnyan is brought out of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv. Getty Images

Repairmen work near a residential building damaged following a missile attack in Vyshgorod, outside of Kyiv. AFP

An elderly man walks in front of a residential building damaged following a missile attack in Vyshgorod. AFP

A boy kisses a dog while he charges his phone at the heating tent dubbed a Point of Invincibly in Bucha, Ukraine. AP

A couple uses a laptop in the heating tent. AP

Workers dig out a tire from the rubble of a destroyed storage building at a grain processing center so they can use it for repairs in Siversk, Donetsk region. Reuters

The Chernihiv region found itself on the frontline of Russia's invasion in February, when Moscow's forces were attempting to quickly seize Kyiv. Getty

Russia ultimately retreated from northern Ukraine to focus its attack on the east and south. Getty

The city of Chernihiv on November 28, 2022 in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Getty

A worker fits in new windows of a building in Chernihiv. Getty

People receive food from AFAT - Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency in Chernihiv. Getty

The people Chernihiv queue up for hot food. Getty

Oleksandr Antonenko stands on a balcony of his apartment damaged by a recent Russian military strike in Kherson. Reuters

Mr Antonenko and his mother Liudmyla inside their apartment recently damaged by a Russian military strike in Kherson. Reuters

A woman walks in an underpass in Kyiv, on November 26, 2022. AFP

Friends hug after the arrival of a train in the southern city of Kherson. Getty

Residents sort through donated clothing at an aid centre in Kherson. Getty

A Ukrainian soldier stands with a machinegun near Liman in the Donetsk region. AP

Children attend a physical education class at Spilno School in Kyiv. Getty

A woman embraces her friend, a soldier in the Ukrainian army, in Kherson. AFP

Residents inspect a crater left by a Russian military strike in the village of Komyshuvakha in the Zaporizhzhia region. Reuters

Resident Tetiana Reznychenko walks past a work by world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy, on the wall of a destroyed building in the Ukrainian village of Horenka. Reuters

Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery at Russian positions near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. AP

A fisherman sails his boat on the Dnipro as black smoke rises from an oil reserve in Kherson. AFP

Mr Cleverly, who will reaffirm UK support for the country in the fight against Russia, will also be involved in discussions on how the UK and Nato can solidify support to countries where Russia is accused of exerting a destabilising influence.

“With Russia’s war disrupting peace in Europe it’s vital that Nato and its allies look closely at how we shore up our defences to handle the challenges we face today,” said Mr Cleverly.

“We are united in the long-term objective of supporting Ukraine and further strengthening Nato as a defensive alliance.

“The UK and its Allies will continue to show collective strength in dealing with the complex issues the world faces today, as we are doing in Bucharest today.”

Mr Cleverly will travel to Poland after the Nato meeting for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s ministerial council on Thursday.

The OSCE, which has 57 members, is concerned with conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation.