Ukraine’s first lady has made a rare appearance with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as she insisted: “Nobody takes my husband away from me, not even the war”.

It was only the second time Olena Zelenska has been seen with the Ukrainian leader since Russia’s invasion, having been in an undisclosed location for her safety.

Ukraine news live: Russia sends ‘Terminator’ tank to Donbas

Speaking to Ukraine’s RADA TV, Mrs Zelenska – who has two children with Mr Zelenskyy – said: “The worst ordeal is the war that has begun.

“I can’t say that anything has changed much since the beginning of this war.

“He both was and remained the reliable man and the person. His point of view didn’t change.

“The family, like all Ukrainian families, is now separated.”

Read more: Who is Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska?

After the presenter suggested “the war has practically taken your husband”, Mrs Zelenska replied: “Nobody takes my husband away from me, not even the war.

“He lives at work, we hardly see him.

“We haven’t seen him at all for two and a half months. We only talked on the phone.

“So far we have had several opportunities to see each other.

“And I am grateful to you for this opportunity because we are now spending time together.”

Related posts:

Portugal and Mauritius removed from England’s ‘travel ban’ red list France to return Klimt masterpiece sold under duress during Nazi era to rightful Jewish heirs WHO reassures Europe over Oxford jab as experts look into blood clot claims Israeli archaeologists discover dozens of new Dead Sea Scroll fragments in desert cave Spectator killed after crash at remote desert race in Australia A jailed former president and COVID-19: Why people are rioting and looting in South Africa IMF blames ‘great vaccine divide for dangerous divergence in economic prospects’ China’s Communist Party elevates Xi Jinping’s authority with ‘historical resolution’ What is causing the migrant crisis at the Belarus-Poland border? Grandparents have 15 days to return six-year-old cable car crash survivor to Italy Swimmer dies in Sydney’s first fatal shark attack in nearly 60 years Those who stayed in Kharkiv live in the shadows – with many moving underground