The Second Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen - Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform

The Second Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen

July 23, 2022

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

    Ukraine
  • Doris Schmidauer

    Spouse of the Federal President of the Republic of Austria

    Austria
  • Rossana Briceño

    Spouse of the Prime Minister of Belize

    Belize
  • Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis

    Spouse of Prime Minister of Greece

    Greece
  • María Begoña Gómez Fernández

    Spouse of the Prime Minister of Spain

    Spain
  • Diana Nausėdienė

    First Lady of the Republic of Lithuania

    Lithuania
  • Her Royal Highness Hereditary Princess Sophie von und zu Liechtenstein

    The Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein

    Liechtenstein
  • Elizabeta Georgievska

    First Lady of the Republic of North Macedonia (May 2019 - May 2024)

    North Macedonia
  • Agata Kornhauser-Duda

    First Lady of the Republic of Poland

    Poland
  • Tamara Vučić

    Spouse of the President of the Republic of Serbia

    Serbia
  • Jill Biden

    First Lady of the USA

    United States of America
  • Emine Erdoğan

    First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye

    Türkiye
  • Elke Büdenbender

    Spouse of the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany

    Germany
  • Annik Penders

    Spouse of Prime Minister of Belgium

    Belgium
  • Eliza Jean Reid

    First Lady of Iceland, writer, public figure

    Iceland

Participants of the Summit

  • Marina Abramovich
    Marina Abramovich
    Artist, master of performance
  • Sima Bahous
    Sima Bahous
    Executive Director for UN Women
  • David Beckham
    David Beckham
    Football player, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
  • Maryna Vyazovska
    Maryna Vyazovska
    Ukrainian mathematician
  • Keri-Lynn Wilson
    Keri-Lynn Wilson
    Orchestra conductor, initiator of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra
  • Kseniya Voznitsina
    Kseniya Voznitsina
    Chief physician, “Lisova Poliana” War Veterans Hospital
  • Peter Gelb
    Peter Gelb
    General Manager, Metropolitan Opera
  • Daria Herasymchuk
    Daria Herasymchuk
    Advisor and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Child's Rights and Children Rehabilitation
  • Richard Gere
    Richard Gere
    Actor
  • Marcin Gortat
    Marcin Gortat
    World basketball star
  • Andrzej Duda
    Andrzej Duda
    President of the Republic of Poland
  • Oleksandr Kamyshin
    Oleksandr Kamyshin
    Board Chairman at JSC Ukrzaliznytsia
  • Marcy Kaptur
    Marcy Kaptur
    Congresswoman, Co-Chair at Congressional Ukraine Caucus
  • Ashton Kutcher
    Ashton Kutcher
    Actor
  • Mila Kunis
    Mila Kunis
    Actor
  • Stella Kyriakides
    Stella Kyriakides
    European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Ihor Klyuchnyk
    Ihor Klyuchnyk
    Actor, director, founder of the RescueNOW volunteer fundation
  • Dmytro Kuleba
    Dmytro Kuleba
    Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
  • Dmytro Lubinets
    Dmytro Lubinets
    Ombudsman of Ukraine
  • Viktor Liashko
    Viktor Liashko
    Doctor, Minister of Health of Ukraine, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine, Honored Doctor of Ukraine
  • Kim Majerus
    Kim Majerus
    Head of education, Amazon
  • Ewan McGregor
    Ewan McGregor
    Аctor, UNICEF Ambassador
  • Amina J. Mohammed
    Amina J. Mohammed
    Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • Andriy Shevchenko
    Andriy Shevchenko
    Football player, coach, ambassador of U24
  • Hanna Maliar
    Hanna Maliar
    Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine
  • Robert Metzke
    Robert Metzke
    Global Head of Sustainability, Philips
  • Charles Michel
    Charles Michel
    President of the European Council
  • Danylo Nikiforov
    Danylo Nikiforov
    President of Ukrainian Society at LSE SU
  • Pramila Patten
    Pramila Patten
    The United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict at the level of Under-Secretary-General
  • Yulia Paievska (Taira)
    Yulia Paievska (Taira)
    Volunteer and paramedic
  • Nancy Pelosi
    Nancy Pelosi
    Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
  • Vira Platonova
    Vira Platonova
    Senior Vice President of Visa
  • Rob Portman
    Rob Portman
    Junior United States senator, Co-Chair at Senate Ukraine Caucus
  • Catherine Russell
    Catherine Russell
    UNICEF Executive Director
  • Olha Rudneva
    Olha Rudneva
    Help Ukraine Charitable Foundation coordinator
  • Jaime Saavedra
    Jaime Saavedra
    Director of Education Global Practice at the World Bank Group
  • Vadym Svyridenko
    Vadym Svyridenko
    Plenipotentiary of the President of Ukraine for the rehabilitation of combatants, winner of the Invictus Games
  • Yulia Svyrydenko
    Yulia Svyrydenko
    First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy
  • Elina Svitolina
    Elina Svitolina
    Professional tennis player, United24 ambassador, founder of the Svitolina Foundation
  • Barbara Socha
    Barbara Socha
    Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Family and Social Policy of the Republic of Poland
  • Serhiy Stakhovsky
    Serhiy Stakhovsky
    Ukrainian tennis player
  • Elizabeth Truss
    Elizabeth Truss
    Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
  • Mykhailo Fedorov
    Mykhailo Fedorov
    Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
  • Neil Ferguson
    Neil Ferguson
    British historian, writer
  • Fedir Shandor
    Fedir Shandor
    Professor of the Uzhhorod National University
  • Liev Schreiber
    Liev Schreiber
    Actor, U24 ambassador
  • Malala Yousafzai
    Malala Yousafzai
    Noble 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.

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