Buckingham Palace said on Monday that Sophie, Britain’s Duchess of Edinburgh, visited Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife. This was the first trip to the country by a British royal since the conflict with Russia began.
The palace said in a statement that Sophie, the wife of King Charles’ youngest brother Prince Edward, made the surprise visit on behalf of Britain’s Foreign Office to show solidarity with those affected by the war and as part of her work to champion survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
“It’s true that women and girls pay the highest price in terms of human cost when it comes to the way that they are affected and the way that they can be used as weapons of war,” she said in a speech during the visit.
“Rape is used to demean, to degrade, and to destroy, and we have to get better at trying to prevent that from happening,” she added.
Sophie paid her respects to those who lost their lives in Bucha, a town near Kyiv where Russian forces are accused of committing war crimes, including executions and rapes, before it was recaptured two years ago, according to the foreign office.
She met with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture, the ministry said, as well as children who had been returned to Ukraine after being separated from their families and taken to Russia.
She also met female volunteers who have helped their communities cope with the aftermath of attacks on mental health activities for children.
Britain has been one of the most vocal and active backers of Ukraine since Russia invaded, and it has pledged more than 4.7 billion pounds ($5.91 billion) in non-military support.
Sophie’s trip to Ukraine follows previous visits she has made to countries including Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Colombia to hear first-hand testimonies from victims of conflict-related sexual violence.
“I’ve met so many wonderful Ukrainians… in the United Kingdom who have found a home over there,” she said, before adding, “their hearts remain here.”
“They would like to return home one day, and hopefully that will happen,” she said.
Source: Reuters
