President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program Cindy McCain.
The Head of State thanked Cindy McCain for the continued support of the Ukrainian people and noted that her late husband, Senator John McCain, had visited Ukraine on numerous occasions and had done a lot for our country.
The President also expressed gratitude for the humanitarian assistance provided by the UN World Food Program. From 2022 to 2024, the total volume of aid amounted to $2.2 billion, with an additional $767 million planned for this year.
The meeting focused on the continued support for Ukrainian schools: the arrangement of shelters, assistance in financing meals for students in grades 5 through 11, and the provision of school buses. The President emphasized the importance of doing everything possible to ensure that children can study safely and stay in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Cindy McCain also discussed the importance of continuing the humanitarian program Grain from Ukraine, which is already supported by more than 20 countries. The program is vital for African and Middle Eastern nations, for the Global South, and the world as a whole.
The President stressed that thanks to the Grain from Ukraine initiative, our country was also able to help people in Syria. Despite the war, Ukraine remains a guarantor of global food security and is ready to do even more.
Cindy McCain praised the effectiveness of the Grain from Ukraine program. According to her, the WFP team had the opportunity to see firsthand how the initiative operates and truly helps people.
They also discussed diplomatic efforts toward achieving a just and lasting peace, the need to increase pressure on Russia, and efforts to return Ukrainian children who were illegally deported and forcibly displaced by Russia.
“We are grateful for the partnership and your leadership. We have strong cooperation with our Ukrainian partners and the government. It is very important that you feel what we are doing is not only for today but also for Ukraine’s future,” Cindy McCain said.