First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska addressed attendees at an event hosted by Georgetown University on the occasion of the establishment of a permanent professorship in Ukrainian Studies at the Walsh School of Foreign Service.
“Georgetown University is a long-standing and trusted friend of Ukraine. When I opened the Ukrainian Bookshelf here in September 2023, I expressed gratitude to the faculty and students for their commitment to truth and their willingness to stand for truth and justice in times when truth and justice are being challenged. Today, I thank you for your engagement with Ukrainian Studies,” the First Lady said.
Olena Zelenska expressed special thanks to the Clinton family, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Dean Joel Hellman of the School of Foreign Service, and the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States for supporting Ukraine’s educational diplomacy.
“I believe Ukrainian Studies are not just about Ukraine. They are about a just and secure world. When we know the truth, when we are informed, we increase the global balance of truth. We protect ourselves from manipulation, we become stronger, and we make our countries stronger. Today, our nations are closely connected in the pursuit of peace, and it is vital for the future of the world that this peace is just and fair,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.
The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, launched in 2024 under the patronage of the First Lady, brings together universities and academic institutions from various countries to study Ukraine – its history, culture, economy, and international relations.
The initiative aims to expand collaboration with universities around the world and establish Ukrainian Studies programs, new educational initiatives, research projects, and academic exchanges to deepen global understanding of Ukraine – without disinformation or Russian narratives.