Ukrainians at the Conservative Party conference are taking the opportunity to share first-hand the impact of the war on Ukraine. These talks aim to highlight how vital the UK’s support is in fighting Russia’s aggression.
In an interview for the Telegraph, Lesia Vasylenko, a Ukrainian lawyer and politician who serves as a People’s Deputy of Ukraine in the 9th Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, aims to shed light on the stories of Ukrainians.
“The conference is a great opportunity to tell our stories and increase support for Ukraine,” says Vasylenko. “The support of the British people and MPs is enormous. It is tremendous, not only because of the amounts that Ukraine receives, but the United Kingdom always steps forward and sets an example for the rest of the world.
“We need policies to materialize much faster. We need a solution to the problem of companies still operating in the Russian markets. There are 73 British companies left in Russia and doing business as usual.
“We hope our voice is heard. It is heard when we are in the room but words must materialize into actions.
“It’s like talking about a parallel reality or a different universe.
” [about life in Ukraine] but when you are in Ukraine, it is always about war.
“When you hear the air raid siren, your brain decides whether you should run to shelter or continue with your daily life. There is a part of your subconscious that tells you that you are taking a risk that could be fatal.
“It’s worse when you have children around or older relatives, it’s a state of constant worry.
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Watch the full interview with Lesia Vasylenko above. Listen to our podcast, Ukraine: the latest for more content
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