Alena Zelyanskaya

, who is on a visit to Washington, said in a speech before the US Congress on July 20 that Ukraine is grateful for the military assistance that the US has provided so far, but now Ukraine especially needs air defense systems.



"We want every father and mother to be able to tell their children to go to bed peacefully.

There will be no more strikes from the air," said Alena Zelenskaya.

Speaking of "children killed in strollers," she drew the attention of American lawmakers to the Russian missile attack on Vinnytsia last week, where children were also victims.



In her speech, Alena Zelenskaya also recalled the elderly who survived the Second World War and the Holocaust, but were killed by Russian airstrikes in 2022.



"Unfortunately, the war is not over," noted the first lady of Ukraine, and said that she is asking for weapons on behalf of the killed and wounded Ukrainians and on behalf of those who survived.



Alena Zelenskaya, who visited the White House on July 19, said the current reality is that she and other mothers in Ukraine are asking if their children will return to school in the fall, and teachers are wondering whether to prepare them for school or for being in bomb shelters.

Earlier, the President of Ukraine ,

Volodymyr Zelensky

, said that he expects "significant results" from his wife's meetings in Washington.

He said her address to members of Congress would be important.



In addition to meeting with US President

Joe Biden

and First Lady

Jill Biden

at the White House, Alena Zelenskaya also visited the State Department and met with US Secretary of State

Anthony Blinken

.