Olena Zelenska speaks at World Economic Forum, calls on influential attendees to take concrete action to support Ukraine’s struggling farmers and children.
As the world gathers at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, made an impassioned plea for support for her war-torn nation. Speaking to government officials, corporate leaders, academics, and activists from around the world, Zelenska highlighted the dire situation facing Ukraine as a result of Russia’s ongoing aggression.
“What you all have in common is that you are genuinely influential,” she said. “But there is something that separates you, namely that not all of you use this influence, or sometimes use it in a way that separates you even more.”
War’s Devastating Impact on Children and Families
As the anniversary of the war approaches, Zelenska spoke of the heart-wrenching scenes playing out in Ukraine, where desperate parents are crying while doctors try to save their children, and farmers are fearful of returning to fields crawling with mines. Zelenska said, “We cannot let another Chernobyl happen,” referring to the 1986 nuclear disaster as Russian missiles pounded Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
There have been thousands of civilian deaths, millions of displaced people, and food and fuel markets worldwide have been jolted by the fighting. The impact on children and families has been devastating, with many facing food insecurity and a lack of access to basic necessities.
“There is a right to food that every human being has, and it’s an insult for mankind and for human nature itself, that in the 21st century, it is possible for us to have mass starvation simply because of the targeted aggression of some countries,” Zelenska said.
Global Food Insecurity on the Rise
The situation in Ukraine is part of a larger global crisis, as the head of the U.N. World Food Program reports that COVID-19, climate change, and conflict have put 350 million people at risk of starvation. This is an alarming increase from the 80 million reported in 2017.
In Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where many were already hungry, Ukraine and Russia were key suppliers of wheat, barley, and other food supplies. The disruption of these food supplies has only exacerbated the crisis, making it more urgent than ever for the international community to take action.
A Plan for Action
Zelenska outlined a plan to address the global food insecurity crisis, including creating a European Union-wide agricultural fund to support farmers in Ukraine and other countries affected by conflict. She also called for subsidies for green industries and funding for EU-wide projects to help reach a 2050 goal of climate neutrality.
Additionally, Zelenska urged the EU to be more forceful in countering unfair trading practices. “We are all internally convinced that there is no such global problem that humanity cannot solve,” Zelenska stated. “This is more important now when Russia’s aggression in Europe poses various challenges.”
While the World Economic Forum may be a week-long talkfest of big ideas and backroom deal-making, Zelenska’s plea serves as a reminder of the urgent and pressing needs facing the world’s most vulnerable populations. It remains to be seen how much concrete action will emerge from the forum to help reach its stated ambition of “improving the state of the world, but Zelenska’s call to action serves as a reminder that the time for rhetoric is over and it is time for action.
As the world continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19 and the economic fallout, it is easy to forget the ongoing conflicts and crises that continue to ravage countries like Ukraine. Zelenska’s words serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the urgent need for the international community to come together to address the issue of food insecurity and support those who are suffering the most.
As the world leaders and corporate executives at the World Economic Forum continue to discuss issues such as hunger, climate change, and the slowdown in the economy, it is essential that they not only talk about these issues, but also take concrete steps to address them. Ukraine’s first lady has shown that there is a clear plan for action and it is now up to the international community to step up and take action to help improve the state of the world.
