The Second Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen
The Second Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen was dedicated to the theme «Ukraine and the World: The Future We (Re)build Together»
The main focus of the event was on people. “Someone measures the war currently going on in Ukraine by geopolitical ambitions, the confrontation between the civilised world and despotism. But I will say it more simply: for us it is a people's war. And a war for people” – said Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine and the founder of the Global Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.
The main goal of the Summit was to discuss plans for the future of Ukraine and the world in the context of post-war reconstruction.
23 first ladies and gentlemen, as well as 50 invited guests, participated in the event, which took place as a teleconference between 5 countries. The main studio was located in Kyiv, with four others in Warsaw, Brussels, Washington, and London.
The summit raised 6.4 million dollars for 92 ambulances for emergency medical assistance in Ukraine.
Address of the First Lady of Ukraine
Address of the First Lady of Ukraine
A human being’s life and health, honour and dignity, inviolability, and security are recognised as the highest values in Ukraine. This is what our Constitution states.
This has always been the case, and no one can take away this value – our soldiers on the battlefield, doctors delivering babies in basements, volunteers evacuating elderly people from under fire every day.
Some people measure the ongoing war in Ukraine by geopolitical ambitions, the confrontation between the civilised world and despotism. But I will put it simply: this is a war of people for us. And a war for people.
That is why people are at the centre of every discussion at this Summit. That is why I invited the First Ladies to the discussion. Because they use their experience and power daily to care for people. This power is called soft power, which does not mean that it is less powerful. Especially when there is unity.
So, I invite First Ladies and Gentlemen, experts in various fields, and famous people to join forces. Together, we must win the battle for a decent life for the Ukrainian people and learn the lessons that will help us overcome possible future global crises.
Olena Zelenska
First Lady of Ukraine
First Ladies and Gentlemen
Olеna Zelenska
First Lady of Ukraine, founder of the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform
Doris Schmidauer
Spouse of the Federal President of the Republic of Austria
Rossana Briceño
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Belize
Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis
Spouse of Prime Minister of Greece
María Begoña Gómez Fernández
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Spain
Diana Nausėdienė
First Lady of the Republic of Lithuania
Her Royal Highness Hereditary Princess Sophie von und zu Liechtenstein
The Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein
Elizabeta Georgievska
First Lady of the Republic of North Macedonia (May 2019 - May 2024)
Agata Kornhauser-Duda
First Lady of the Republic of Poland (2015 – 2025)
Tamara Vučić
Spouse of the President of the Republic of Serbia
Jill Biden
First Lady of the USA (2021 - 2025)
Emine Erdoğan
First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye
Elke Büdenbender
Spouse of the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany
Annik Penders
Spouse of Prime Minister of Belgium (2020 – 2025)
Eliza Jean Reid
First Lady of Iceland, writer, public figure (2016 — 2024)
Participants of the Summit
Marina AbramovichArtist, master of performance
Sima BahousExecutive Director for UN Women
David BeckhamFootball player, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
Maryna VyazovskaUkrainian mathematician
Keri-Lynn WilsonOrchestra conductor, initiator of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra
Kseniya VoznitsinaChief physician, “Lisova Poliana” War Veterans Hospital
Peter GelbGeneral Manager, Metropolitan Opera
Daria HerasymchukAdvisor and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Child's Rights and Children Rehabilitation
Richard GereActor
Marcin GortatWorld basketball star
Andrzej DudaPresident of the Republic of Poland
Oleksandr KamyshinBoard Chairman at JSC Ukrzaliznytsia
Marcy KapturCongresswoman, Co-Chair at Congressional Ukraine Caucus
Ashton KutcherActor
Mila KunisActor
Stella KyriakidesEuropean Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
Ihor KlyuchnykActor, director, founder of the RescueNOW volunteer fundation
Dmytro KulebaMinister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Dmytro LubinetsOmbudsman of Ukraine
Viktor LiashkoDoctor, Minister of Health of Ukraine, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine, Honored Doctor of Ukraine
Kim MajerusHead of education, Amazon
Ewan McGregorАctor, UNICEF Ambassador
Amina J. MohammedDeputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
Andriy ShevchenkoFootball player, coach, ambassador of U24
Hanna MaliarDeputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine
Robert MetzkeGlobal Head of Sustainability, Philips
Charles MichelPresident of the European Council
Danylo NikiforovPresident of Ukrainian Society at LSE SU
Pramila PattenThe United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict at the level of Under-Secretary-General
Yulia Paievska (Taira)Volunteer and paramedic
Nancy PelosiSpeaker of the United States House of Representatives
Vira PlatonovaSenior Vice President of Visa
Rob PortmanJunior United States senator, Co-Chair at Senate Ukraine Caucus
Catherine RussellUNICEF Executive Director
Olha RudnevaHelp Ukraine Charitable Foundation coordinator
Jaime SaavedraDirector of Education Global Practice at the World Bank Group
Vadym SvyridenkoPlenipotentiary of the President of Ukraine for the rehabilitation of combatants, winner of the Invictus Games
Yulia SvyrydenkoFirst Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy
Elina SvitolinaProfessional tennis player, United24 ambassador, founder of the Svitolina Foundation
Barbara SochaUndersecretary of State at the Ministry of Family and Social Policy of the Republic of Poland
Serhiy StakhovskyUkrainian tennis player
Elizabeth TrussSecretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Mykhailo FedorovDeputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
Neil FergusonBritish historian, writer
Fedir ShandorProfessor of the Uzhhorod National University
Liev SchreiberActor, U24 ambassador
Malala YousafzaiNoble Peace Prize Laureate & Human Rights Campaigner
Summit Program
- Panel 1
Heart of the world beats in Ukraine
The echoes of Russian aggression in Ukraine can already be heard far beyond its borders. Humanitarian disasters, famine, energy crisis – the future well-being of the world depends on the victory of our country. It will be about how to restore peace and prosperity and prevent tyranny from winning.
- Panel 2
Temporarily displaced. Solidarity without borders
The war in Ukraine caused the largest forced displacement in Europe since World War II. Let’s discuss how to overcome its consequences together; projects that will help temporarily displaced persons to adapt and at the same time preserve Ukrainian identity. But the main thing is how everyone can come out of this crisis stronger.
- Panel 3
Save the Childhood
How to return normal life to Ukrainian children who suffered from the war will be discussed by this panel. We will discuss the renewal of the educational process in Ukraine and the best world experience that will help in this; educational initiatives for Ukrainian children abroad.
- Panel 4
Health recovery: physical and mental
The permanent stress caused by war, the loss of loved ones, home, stability – all this destroys the physical and mental health of a nation. We will discuss rebuilding a healthy society through rebuilding the Ukrainian healthcare system, mental health and rehabilitation programs, medical evacuation, and the best international health support programs.
- Panel 5
She-factor of recovery
Ukrainian women are also on the front lines – and not only in the Armed Forces. They are doctors, teachers, volunteers, mothers who, in the conditions of war, are doing their best to keep up on all fronts. This panel will discuss the special mission of women in building the modern world, women’s leadership during the war and its role in the post-war reconstruction.
