Children, war and soft power: Exclusive podcast by Nataša Pirc Musar and Olena Zelenska
- Partner News

The President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, recorded a podcast with Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska. They discussed war, the well-being of children, and the role of First Ladies and Gentlemen on the international stage. During the conversation, Olena Zelenska shared her initiatives to support children and highlighted the importance of soft power. The women also explored Slovenian-Ukrainian relations.
The discussion placed particular emphasis on the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform and its projects – the Fourth and Third Summits and their tangible outcomes.
The Fourth Summit concluded with the signing of a joint declaration aimed at consolidating efforts to ensure the safety of children, especially during armed conflicts and wars. According to Olena Zelenska, this document ‘can be seen as a set of guidelines for states in cases where childhood is endangered due to war, crises, or other catastrophes. During the Third Summit, the international medical partnership initiative was launched, enabling Ukrainian doctors and their foreign colleagues to exchange expertise across various medical fields and integrate the acquired knowledge into advanced practices.
During the interview, Olena Zelenska also spoke about the work of her Foundation. This initiative aims to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainians affected by the war, including vulnerable groups such as children left without parental care. The Olena Zelenska Foundation actively supports large foster families who take on the responsibility of raising these children.
‘Today, we have 85 large foster families who have lost their homes due to destruction by the invaders or displacement because their homes are in occupied territories. We are building houses for them so that childhood can be safe within a family and comfortable,’ – said Ukraine’s First Lady. She added that the first wave of construction has been completed, providing 14 fully equipped, energy-efficient homes. Plans are underway to build 20 more.
Touching on the topic of soft power, Olena Zelenska emphasized its vital role in modern diplomacy. She highlighted the community’s First Ladies and Gentlemen’s efforts in promoting diplomacy through ’emotions, sympathy, and engagement.’ Regarding gender equality in politics, including within the community of First Ladies and Gentlemen, Zelenska expressed hope for an increase in the number of First Gentlemen and their proactive involvement, citing the example of Slovenia’s First Gentleman, Aleš Musar.
Slovenia is an active participant in the Global Platform. Dr. Aleš Musar, the First Gentleman of Slovenia, took part in the Third and Fourth Summits and was a speaker at the Soft Power Summit 2024 panel discussion. In addition, Mr. Musar recorded video messages for two online campaigns: Mental Health Awareness Month and UN World Children’s Day 2024.
You can listen to the podcast via the provided link.
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