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Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska reveals how Putin's barbaric invasion of her homeland has left her 'close to psychological burnout' - as she tries to stay strong for her husband, children, and her beloved nation
Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska has opened up about coming 'close to psychological burnout' caused by Russian president Vladimir Putin's barbaric invasion of her homeland.
She told of trying to stay strong for her husband. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as her children - and people across the war-torn nation.
Russian forces invaded in February 2022 with the conflict still dragging on as Ukraine resists - with Mr Zelensky this week making a new appeal to the West for more crucial military equipment.
Earlier this month the couple attended 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France, where they mingled with guests including the Prince of Wales, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and French president Emmanuel Macron.
Mrs Zelenska, 46, has now revealed the personal toll the past two years has taken on her, having been forced by the invasion to live apart from her husband.
Ukraine 's First Lady Olena Zelenska has told how Russia's invasion of her homeland left her 'close to psychological burnout'
She and her husband Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, are seen here arriving at the international commemorative ceremony marking 80 years since D-Day earlier this month
She previously met Queen Camilla at Clarence House in London on February 29 this year
Mrs Zelenska (right) joined US First Lady Jill Biden (left) and the Princess of Wales (centre) at a Buckingham Palace reception connected to King Charles' coronation in May last year
He has remained at his office in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv while she resides at a different, unspecified location with their two children.
In a new interview with the Telegraph, she revealed: 'There are moments where I feel I am close to psychological burnout and I understand that I need rest.
'I try to use the moment effectively, because sometimes when we think we have rest, we don't.'
She described 'horrifying moments' waking up in the middle of the night with thoughts of struggling to cope.
She added: 'It's good it happened at night because none of my children saw it because I always have to be a source of confidence for them.
'Children always look up to their parents and they need to know that everything is going to be okay.
'A couple of times I allowed myself to cry when it was unbearably sad but it was something I did consciously because I know I have to dive deep to the bottom to find the power to push and then I can swim again.
'You have to allow yourself an opportunity to cry it all out.'
Olena Zelenska and Volodymyr Zelensky, pictured at Omaha Beach in France on June 6 this year, first met when at school together before marrying in 2003
Mrs Zelenska is seen here at 10 Downing Street with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty on February 29 this year
She was pictured sharing a hug with a child during the opening of the Superhumans Centre for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation in the Ukrainian city of Lviv earlier today
Mrs Zelenska went on to declare how she hopes to 'live until the moment of victory', while adopting coping mechanisms such as not reading the news on her mobile phone before retiring for the night.
She also compiles 'a list of things that calm me down' as well as occupying herself by doing cleaning chores or washing her hair.
She added: 'While you are doing something you don't just sit idly and be scared, you do something helpful at this moment.'
The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces has said some 529,750 Russian troops have been killed since the invasion launched on February 24 2022.
Mrs Zelenska, a former screenwriter, first met her future husband as teenagers at school before later working on a comedy show together and married in 2003.
She joked in the new interview: 'We don't bore each other, we miss each other - we don't have the time to make each other angry or have a fight, so recently we don't have fights at all.'
She also told how 'incredibly grateful' she was to rescue workers retrieving people from the rubble of buildings hit by Russian artillery - saying how their contribution 'inspires even in the worst moments'.
Mr Zelensky warned last weekend that the level of military aid being sent by the West was still not enough for Ukraine to defeat Russia as 80 countries backed its 'territorial integrity'.
Thumbs-up signals are given by French president Emmanual Macron, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine First Lady Olena Zalenska in Paris on June 6
The future Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky and Olena Zelenska at Buckingham Palace in October 2020
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned the level of military aid being sent by the West is still not sufficient for Ukraine to defeat Russia as 80 countries backed its 'territorial integrity'
Speaking at the end of a two-day conference in Switzerland billed as the start of a 'Path to Peace', he did hail the event as a 'success' despite a string of major countries failing to sign the communique – among them India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Telling delegates that President Vladimir Putin was not ready for a 'just peace', Mr Zelensky also said Ukraine was ready to negotiate with Russia 'tomorrow' - but only if its forces 'leave our legal territories'.
Following the summit - to which Russia was not invited, and which was snubbed by its key ally China - 80 nations jointly called for Ukraine's 'territorial integrity' to be the basis for any peace agreement.
Issues of nuclear safety, food security and the exchange of prisoners would also be crucial, they agreed.
But Mr Zelensky warned the current level of Western military aid being sent to his country was not enough to ensure Kyiv wins the ongoing conflict.
He said: 'There is aid. There are serious packages. Is it enough to win? No. Is it late? Yes.'
He also told a closing press conference: 'Russia and their leadership are not ready for a just peace.
'Russia can start negotiations with us even tomorrow without waiting for anything - if they leave our legal territories,' he added.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky had an emotional meeting with D-Day veteran Melvin Hurwitz, 99, a former Air Force pilot at commemorations in France earlier this month
Other world leaders there on June 6 included US president Joe Biden (centre) and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron (right)
There were more than 25 world leaders at the June 6 D-Day events including a massive ceremony on Omaha Beach, where Mr Zelensky was joined by others including US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
One of the American veterans who fought at D-Day, 99-year-old former air force pilot Melvin Hurwitz, gave Mr Zelensky a hug and a kiss - calling him a hero.
Mr Hurwitz told the Ukrainian president, 'You're the saviour of the people,' before receiving the response: 'No, no, no - you saved Europe.'
The US veteran then said, 'You're my hero', and Mr Zelensky replied with 'You are our heroes' as the hugged and posed for photos.