The economic impact of the war in Ukraine is severe for its allies, said the first lady of the country, but as she added, while the British “count the pennies”, the Ukrainians “count the victims”.
Olena Zelenska said on Sunday that if support for Ukraine was strong, the crisis would be shorter. In an interview recorded in Kiev, she stressed that while she rarely saw her husband, they talk every day.
In a wide-ranging interview to be broadcast on Sunday 4 September, Ms Zelenska was asked what message she had for Britons facing rising energy bills in part due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the impact gas prices have had and global oil.
“I understand that the situation is very difficult. But let me remind you that during the Covid-19 epidemic, when there was an increase in prices, Ukraine was also affected”.
“Prices are also rising in Ukraine, but besides that our people are being killed.”
“So when you start counting the pennies in your bank account or in your pocket, we do the same and count our victims,” she was quoted as saying.
Ms Zelenska’s comments follow Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s suggestion during a visit to Kiev last month that families across Europe will have to endure the cost of living crisis and “stand” with Ukraine to counter Russian aggression.