First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, together with First Lady of France Brigitte Macron, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, took part in the opening of the Ukrainian Season in France.
Over the next four months, Ukrainian cinema, music, literature, visual arts, and theater will be showcased across various cities in the country.
“Now, in this difficult time for Ukraine – during our fight for survival – when our culture is heard abroad, we understand that we are not alone. And that the values we are protecting today are shared by the entire civilized world. This is why culture is so important. It creates understanding through feelings and builds dialogue even without words,” the First Lady of Ukraine said.
Olena Zelenska noted that during her visit to France, 12 French educational institutions joined the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, and 15 museums joined the initiative to implement Ukrainian-language audio guides at major landmarks around the world.
“Knowledge and culture have the power to change even the most challenging times. The more we learn about one another and respect our differences, the better our world becomes,” the wife of the President of Ukraine concluded.
The organizers of the Ukrainian Season are the French Institute and its office in Kyiv, the Ukrainian Institute and its representative office in France, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, the ministries of culture, and the embassies of Ukraine and France.