Her Royal Highness Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, wife of Prince Edward, arrived in Kyiv on April 29 for her first visit to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. The visit marked a significant milestone as it was the first time a member of the British royal family had been in Ukraine during the conflict.
President Vladimir Zelensky and First Lady Elena Zelenskaya expressed their gratitude for the support of Great Britain and thanked the Duchess for her efforts in fighting sexual violence in war zones. During their meeting, President Zelensky emphasized the importance of British support and highlighted how it has helped Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russian aggression.
The Duchess of Edinburgh visited Irpen in the Kyiv region, where she observed evacuation efforts and admired the resilience of residents under Russian shelling. The visit was kept secret and came as a pleasant surprise to Alexander Markushin, who is mayor of Irpen.
The visit by Her Royal Highness Sophie is a testament to Ukraine’s strong relationship with Great Britain and highlights international support for Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia. The First Lady also acknowledged Britain’s assistance in organizing a national judicial investigation into Russian war crimes and participating in the Coalition for the return of Ukrainian children held captive in Russia.
Overall, this visit marks an important step forward towards peace and stability in Eastern Europe. As one of our strongest allies, we are grateful for Great Britain’s continued support and solidarity with us as we work to overcome this crisis together.
