During a visit to Türkiye, Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska visited Istanbul University, which has been preparing specialists in Ukrainian language and literature for six years. 

“They are not only future (or rather, current) translators, but also specialists in international relations who know, love, promote, and will continue to promote all things Ukrainian, helping Türkiye better understand Ukraine – and vice versa,” said the President’s wife.

Istanbul University also cooperates with five Ukrainian higher education institutions – Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kyiv National Universities.

Olena Zelenska met with Turkish students and Ukrainian faculty members of the department and thanked the Dean of the Faculty of Letters, Mrs. Sevtap Kadıoğlu, for advancing Ukrainian studies.

“Researchers from Kharkiv, Kyiv, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi are now passing on their knowledge of the Ukrainian language and literature to Turkish youth. It is inspiring that Ukrainian studies are growing and developing within these walls. Moreover, we recently launched the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies in Washington. We are working to increase Ukrainian studies – and thus mutual understanding – around the world,” emphasized the First Lady.

During her visit to the university, Olena Zelenska also donated books representing our country to the Ukrainian Book Shelf, which was opened last year.