UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper: So, it’s very good to see you. We last met in February when I was in Kyiv. And thank you so much for taking me to see some of the work that you have been doing with women and girls in Ukraine. I’m here today with Senator Penny Wong, the Australian Foreign Minister, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand from Canada as well. And you have with us in the meeting as three hugely strong allies of Ukraine and of you and all of the work that you are doing to support women and girls in Ukraine. So, we really appreciate your time today. We know the huge cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the immense strength and resilience that Ukraine has shown. And we all stand in solidarity with you. And the impact we know on women and girls’ needs to be taken hugely seriously. And at the centre that you took me to in Kyiv, I met a woman who had been detained by Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia, who told me about some of the beatings, interrogation, forced labour and sexual violence that she had experienced and that she had seen others’ experiences. And we know that these are not isolated cases and they’re part of a pattern which demands a response, and we must hold Russia to account.
But we also know the story of Ukrainian women showing leadership across the country, on the front lines, in communities, holding services and businesses together, holding communities and families together as well. And that leadership is critical now, too. So, we want, as three women from different corners of the world, representing our countries, to also stand with you in support of women’s leadership, but also in support of women across Ukraine and the work that you are doing. So, thank you for everything that you are doing, and you have our strong support. We stand with you in that. Because without women being involved in the process around peace and security, there will not be peace, security or justice. So, Olena, thank you for your time today. I will hand over to you.
First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska: Thank you so much. Ministers, I’m very happy to be meeting with you today, and I’m happy that you are taking time to discuss this important subject. We can talk about these very painful issues. We can talk about the women’s dimension of the war that is still going on in Ukraine. Allow me to start with, I will talk about statistics later, but I want to talk about real stories. Unfortunately, we have a lot of them. Two weeks ago, when Kyiv was being shelled, Veronika Chuyan was 29 years old. She was trying to get to the bomb shelter with two of her children, and she just didn’t make it by a few metres. She was killed, and two boys, two or three years old, are now being treated for very serious injuries. On the same day in Dnipro, another woman, the Tetyana Kotliarova, was killed together with the rest of her family. Her son who was 8 years old, and her mother. It was around the same time that 89-year-old former teacher in Kyiv, in the Lukyanivka district that was shelled, survived by a miracle. Her house was destroyed. She survived the Second World War, and now in this current war, she just had lost her own. On the 4th of June, in Ukraine, like in the rest of the world, people were marking the day of children killed by the war and I had the opportunity to meet some of the mothers who lost their children. Olga lost in a night drone attack, she lost her husband, and her three young children. I cannot tell you how difficult this conversation was and how hard it is to find the right words every time to express my empathy, my compassion and to find the words of support. It is extremely difficult.
So, I gave you a few examples. But all of these examples are not exceptions, unfortunately. Our statistics show huge numbers. But all of these numbers have names. These are people who stayed in Ukraine and did not leave. They were hoping that they could raise their children, they could live in Ukraine, who is still involved in its war of survival. They had the right to live in their country. They have the right to live in their homes in peace, like any woman in the world. However, you know what Russia has done to them. If I’m being honest, I don’t really like dividing people in Ukraine by gender. Because all Ukrainians, all citizens, women and men, are trying to withstand this aggression. However, as the subject of our discussion today is women and the women’s dimension of war, this is the statistics we have. Over 5,000 women in Ukraine have been killed. Over 14,000 have been wounded. According to some of our data, 331 women and 19 girls have survived sexual violence at the hands of the occupiers. And this is just the ones that found the courage to speak out and reported it to the police. How many more are just keeping it inside, we cannot tell.
According to our surveys commissioned by the Ukrainian Program of Mental Health, we know that more than 90 per cent of all Ukrainians, male and female, experience at least one symptom of anxiety disorder because of the war, 77 per cent are in the risk area of developing mental disorders. All these people are working, they’re going about their lives. They may look fine however their mental health is holding on for their life. We cannot weigh or count pain. We can’t and should not do it. Or we should not compare pain of experience by different people, because everyone’s faith is unique. However, what we can and should do is to give a voice, right? To bear witness, to be heard and to get justice. It is exactly justice. Everyone who has been affected by the Russian wars, not only women. And this is why I’m talking to you today. Of course, we have been grateful for the United Kingdom and Canada and Australia, for everything you are doing for Ukrainians and for Ukraine. We are deeply grateful to you. However, the war goes on until Russia is stopped. Unfortunately, the need for support increases and at the same time the need for justice increases. Exactly that’s the reason why one of our priorities is the implementation of our law for the legal status of persons who have been affected by violence, sexual violence in the context of the war. And there need to be emergency preliminary reparations. These people are receiving reparations. However, they do not come from Russia as they should, but they come from our national partners on the global front. Which is a good thing because those that have been affected cannot wait. The very act of getting recourse of this kind allows them to feel that they are remembered, that their country and the world support them and it gives them a feeling of possibility, of justice. Justice that everyone who has been affected by the war earns for. And this is why we are grateful to the support of Canada, UK and Australia in helping us to ensure our sustainability of this.
Of course, Russia will also be held to account for this. Every day in Ukraine we are creating unique assistance of responding to crisis. They are unique because we are dealing with challenges that nobody else in today’s world has faced. And this is why we’re borrowing the best international practices. But also a lot of this is our unique experience. Ukraine has already established an integrated system for support of survivors of occupation, forced relocation and sexual violence related to the conflict. There are special centres for support of survivors and they have become lifesavers for thousands of Ukrainians who have been affected by the war. This is direct support for people and it’s the most efficient way to help. Help is also needed by civil society organisations in Ukraine who are still functioning despite the war. Majority of our public organisations have women spaces. There are – women are the most valuable assets of our volunteer movement. When a lot of men are in the frontline fighting, women embody civil society in every shape and form. This is why they are achieving this equality with men. And they’re paying a very high price. This is why I’m asking you to help women’s organisations and until [indistinct] women.
Dear partners, I also want us to remember that a great number of our women have become refugees, including many of them in your countries who are receiving temporary protection. 60 per cent of refugees are women and they’re trying to integrate. They’re learning the languages and they are trying to integrate in your society. However, behind all these efforts, they are people survived shellings, losses, fear. I would urge you to remember this and make sure that inside your countries they are getting the support that they need until they’re able to come home.
Summing up, I would like to say that the UN historic resolution on Women, Peace and Security has become something more than just a declaration for Ukraine. It’s our daily reality and this reality has a price that nobody would have liked to pay. Thousands of casualties and what [indistinct] millions of refugees and those who stayed in Ukraine to continue the work. Even 25 years ago, maybe you have been questioning how many women we should have in positions of power and are women able to have the same responsibilities and opportunities as men? Ukraine has given the answer: once we throw all these [indistinct] where women are in positions of power and frontline in public organisations, their share of their role in governance of the country is growing and the war has just sped it up. Women are Ukraine, women who are being killed by Russia and women who are standing up to it.
As regards a National Action Plan, participation of women in – we will hear from Kateryna Levchenko, Commissioner on Gender in Ukraine. But I will finish by saying that your response and the response of your countries should take into account Resolution 1325 of the UN. It’s about equity, it’s about justice for those who have survived. Justice, even for one person is very important and we need a just world in the future. Thank you very much for listening. Thank you very much for understanding. Thank you for being ready to work with us for a better future for Ukrainian women. Thank you.
Foreign Secretary Cooper: Thank you so much, Olena. I’ll turn to Penny.
Foreign Minister, Penny Wong: Ms. Zelenska, thank you so much for the opportunity to be in this event with you. And thank you to Foreign Secretary Cooper and my colleague from Canada, Anita Anand, as well for the opportunity to be here. We’re here to listen and that was a very powerful contribution you made and I appreciate the strength of that contribution. I want to say to you that we stand with you. We recognise the immense suffering of the Ukrainian people, the immense suffering of Ukrainian women and children, the result of Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified invasion. And we recognise the strength of your leadership and the determination that you and the leadership of Ukraine continue to demonstrate every day.
When I often speak in my country, which is a long way away from Ukraine, about my visit to Kyiv in 2024. And that was one of the most moving things I have done as Foreign Minister, to witness the courage of your people. I also visited Save Ukraine, and met women and children there, an organisation, as you know that’s dedicated to rescuing abducted Ukrainian children and providing critical care.
More than four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, we understand that Ukrainian women have remained at the heart of your country’s response. Sustaining communities, leading humanitarian efforts, often through harsh winters and the threat of missiles, and serving on the front line. And today you have also shared with us some of the stories of courage and some of the stories of suffering.
Australia stands with you. As part of the support we provide, one of the aspects of the support is the support for women-led and community-based organisations delivering assistance. We have worked with you on the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, working with others to bring Ukrainian children home. And of course, with others, have referred this situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants for crimes including the unlawful deportation of women. We’ve funded practical support for clinicians, including all women completing programs in Australia, to enable them to better help their fellow citizens in terms of frontline trauma care. We’ll continue to provide that support to various clinicians coming to Australia.
Today is a really important opportunity. I know that it is symbolic but it’s a symbol that speaks to something you may not be able to see. But where we sit, we see your face in the four flags of our countries. And I think this is a visual symbol of the solidarity that we are seeking to express to you today. Please accept our best wishes, our continued solidarity and our thanks to you for joining us today.
Foreign Secretary Cooper: Thank you. So, to Anita.
Canadian Foreign Minister, Anita Anand: Thank you so much, Yvette, for the invitation to be here with you and always wonderful to see you Penny, as well. We have met many times in the past and most recently at the United Nations General Assembly, where your husband, President Zelenskyy and our Prime Minister, Prime Minister Carney and us, we co-hosted another event for the return of Ukrainian children. And I just wanted to say you are an inspiration for so many of us around the world, to see your strength and your leadership alongside President Zelenskyy in this very difficult time of Russia’s further unjustifiable and illegal invasion.
The solidarity around this table and around tables all over the world is undeniable. And it will continue in the long and short term for Ukraine, for as long as it takes. And so I wanted to start by saying that. I also wanted to say that Canada will continue to support Ukraine’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. This is something that we take extremely seriously. And your testimonials today remind us that Russia’s illegal war of aggression is not only widespread, but it is also deeply troubling in terms of the inequality and the mistreatment of women and girls, including sexual violence and sexual exploitation, which are completely and utterly reprehensible.
You show us that leadership matters. As in all spheres, having women at the table will lead to better outcomes, not just for Ukraine, but around the world, in peace negotiations and on the battlefield itself. The Canadian Armed Forces have trained under Operation UNIFIER almost 48,000 members of the Ukrainian armed forces side by side. And many of those armed forces members are, in fact, women. And so whether it is at the negotiating table or on the battlefield, Canada stands with Ukraine in terms of recognising the value and importance of having women present and on the front lines.
We know that Ukrainian women are fighting for all women and men who believe in gender equality, in living with dignity, prosperity, security and sustainability for our communities.
Just to close, I want to broaden it out a little bit to say what you said, that it is very difficult to separate out women and girls from the broader impact of the war, the illegal war, on Ukrainian families and Ukrainian communities. We have to remember that the effort that we are collectively making is about saluting the courage of Ukrainians, saluting the resilience of Ukrainians, and highlighting, of course, always the importance of women and girls in that process.
All together, Canada has mobilised approximately $25.5 billion in security, economic, humanitarian and development assistance. And as I said, this is the work that we will continue to do with the Coalition of the Willing and with women and girls and countries around the world. Canada stands with you. Canada will continue to stand with you in terms of women and girls at the table, territorial integrity, Ukraine’s sovereignty. And to close, let me just say with all sincerity, Slava Ukraini. Glory to Ukraine.
