In Kyiv, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met with Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program Cindy McCain.
"Thank you for your courage and for not being afraid to come to Ukraine during such a difficult time for us, as Russia continues to carry out increasingly vile and brutal attacks," said the First Lady.
Olena Zelenska highlighted the support that the late Senator John McCain, Cindy McCain’s husband, had provided to Ukraine, as well as Cindy McCain’s own personal contribution to helping Ukrainians.
"We are grateful for the assistance that continues to be provided to Ukraine through the UN World Food Program, particularly for internally displaced persons and the elderly. We are also grateful for supporting small Ukrainian manufacturers in the context of their ability to participate in UN tenders," the First Lady noted.
Olena Zelenska and Cindy McCain discussed continued support for the implementation of Ukraine’s school nutrition reform.
"We already provide free hot meals to more than 1.5 million children every day. Our goal is to provide free meals to more than 3 million students daily in all regions of the country by 2027," said the President’s wife.
According to the First Lady, 16 culinary hubs are already operating in Ukraine, and 10 more are currently being developed. In addition, the state is allocating subsidies for the renovation and construction of catering facilities.
"We are also running an information campaign – teaching children to make conscious choices in favor of healthy habits. This influences entire families, and we hope it will gradually change the consumption culture across the country," Olena Zelenska added.
The First Lady also emphasized that it is important for Ukraine to remain part of the School Meals Coalition, and expressed hope for continued cooperation with the UN World Food Program.