Türkiye’s first lady hosts Ukrainian counterpart in Istanbul

Turkish first lady Emine Erdoğan hosted her Ukrainian counterpart Olena Zelenska in Istanbul on Sunday amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

"I was happy to host my dear friend Olena Zelenska, the wife of the President of Ukraine, in Istanbul," Emine Erdoğan said on Twitter.

On the victims of war in Ukraine, Erdoğan said: "I believe that together we will heal the wounds of the Ukrainian people, particularly women and children who are victims of war."

She also said that Ankara would maintain its long-time diplomatic efforts for peace.

The Turkish first lady also thanked Zelenska for signing a goodwill document to support Türkiye's zero waste initiative.

During her visit, Zelenska gave information about the latest developments in Ukraine, as well as the work of the Olena Zelenska Foundation.

Expressing her thanks for Türkiye's hosting of 1,300 orphaned Ukrainian children, Zelenska asked that the country also take in 200 children with special needs and assist in their evacuation.

The first lady of Ukraine also noted the strong leadership and diplomatic skills of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in securing the Black Sea maritime corridor for Ukraine to export its grain to the rest of the world, as well as a recent prisoner swap between Moscow and Kyiv.

She added that the grain corridor in particular saved the world from a major food crisis.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement on July 22 in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February. A Joint Coordination Center with officials from the three countries and the UN has been set up in Istanbul to oversee the shipments.

Pointing out the rise in health care needs due to the war with Russia, Zelenska also asked Emine Erdoğan for support in supplying ambulances and baby incubators.