Olena Zelenska: Ukraine can endure brutal winter
Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska believes that citizens in the war-torn country can "endure" a tough winter under siege by Russia.
Olena Zelenska says that Ukrainians will be able to "endure" a tough winter.
Russian missiles have been aimed at energy infrastructure across the nation as the conflict continues into the winter but Zelenska feels that the war-torn nation has the strength to come through.
The Ukrainian first lady told the BBC: "We are ready to endure this.
"We've had so many terrible challenges, seen so many victims, so much destruction, that blackouts are not the worst thing to happen to us."
Zelenska pointed out at a recent poll where 90 per cent of Ukrainians said that they were willing to live with electricity shortages for years if it could help the nation join the European Union after the conflict with Russia.
She explained: "You know, it is easy to run a marathon where you know how many kilometres there are.
"Sometimes it can be very difficult. But there are some new emotions that help us to hold on."
Zelenska claims that there can be "no peace" unless Ukraine ends up winning the war.
She said: "We all understand that without victory, there will be no peace. It would be a false peace."
The first lady explained that she would define "victory" by suggesting that it will allow Ukrainians to return to their lives before the conflict.
She said: "A return to normal life... sometimes it seems we have put everything on pause."
