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First Lady Olena Zelenska Marks Ukrainian Studies Coalition Growth to 81 Institutions
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First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in the signing of memorandums in Tallinn that brought five Estonian universities into the Global Coalition for Ukrainian Studies.
The Office of the President of Ukraine reported the ceremony on its official website on June 9.
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The accession widens a network that now spans 81 institutions across 26 countries. It deepens the study of Ukraine abroad as Kyiv works to shape how other societies understand the war and the country's place in global geopolitics.
Zelenska signed alongside Estonia's First Lady, Sirje Karis, and Kristina Kallas, Estonia's Minister of Education and Science.
The new members are Tallinn University, Tartu Health Care College, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Tallinn Health Care College, and Tallinn University of Technology.
The coalition gives partner institutions shared events, courses, joint study programs, and access to a cross-border academic network. "Participation in the coalition will broaden the opportunities of all members," Zelenska emphasized.
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She noted that members would gain an evidence-based understanding of Ukraine and of global geopolitics—knowledge she called essential for people and governments making sound decisions.
Around the ceremony, Zelenska met Karis and thanked Estonia for supporting the "Address of Childhood" project in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region. With backing from the Estonian Centre for International Development, homes were built last year for large foster families who lost their housing to Russian aggression.
The two also discussed preparations for the sixth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, set to take place this year in Kyiv. Karis confirmed her readiness to travel to Ukraine for the event.
Zelenska has consistently linked education to the war's psychological toll on Ukraine's youngest. Speaking at an educational conference in 2025, she reported that 44% of children showed signs of potential post-traumatic stress, struggling with concentration, social isolation, and persistent sleep problems.
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