A meeting on the implementation of the School Nutrition Reform Strategy and the coordination of next steps was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko. Participants included First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, government officials, representatives from the Office of the President, regional military administrations, local communities, diplomatic missions, and international organizations.
Each region presented the changes achieved over the years of implementing the reform. More than 2 million children in Ukraine have already been provided with free hot meals, and plans are in place to expand the program to cover 3 million students. In particular, further modernization of school kitchens is envisaged, along with the establishment of culinary hubs, systematic training for cooks, and the expansion of the electronic procurement catalogue. The reform currently covers more than 12,000 schools and over 1,500 communities.
“Only a state that invests in its children has a future. Comprehensive, high-quality school meals are one such investment. As a government, we provide the tools; regional military administrations coordinate efforts with communities. In the 2026 state budget, we have allocated 14.4 billion hryvnias for this program and earmarked 1 billion hryvnias for the modernization of school kitchens,” Yuliia Svyrydenko noted.
The First Lady thanked communities for their contribution to implementing the reform and underscored the importance of fostering a culture of healthy eating from an early age.
“A school lunch – high-quality, fresh, and guaranteed by the state and the community – is a form of care and a sign of stability, which is something everyone lacks so deeply right now. This sense of certainty must be the same everywhere: in a city far from the front line, in a frontline community, or in the smallest town. Equality in children’s nutrition is strategic for us,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.
Special attention during the meeting was given to cooperation with communities, businesses, and international partners, as well as to the integration of infrastructure solutions, including the network of factory kitchens.
In addition, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mariana Betsa presented a new strategic objective of the school nutrition reform: sharing Ukraine’s experience and engaging international partners in its implementation.