A record number of participants gathered at the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv. Israel – online

The Fifth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv

In Kyiv, on September 11, 2025, the fifth annual summit of first ladies and gentlemen took place, organized with the participation of Olena Zelenska. This year, the two-day event focused on the theme “Education Shaping the World.” The number of participants was record-breaking.

The event gathered first ladies and gentlemen, ministers of education, Nobel laureates, experts, representatives of IT companies, and teachers from different countries. During the event, they discussed access to education, innovations, and the role of the educational process in shaping the future society.

Participants and Format

Representatives from 20 countries joined the summit. Among those who came to Kyiv were the first ladies of Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Serbia, and Finland, as well as the first gentleman of Denmark.

In the online format, the first ladies of Belize, Guatemala, Israel, and other countries, including the first gentleman of Slovenia, participated. They all received support from Queen Silvia of Sweden and the wife of the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshiko Ishiba.

The program includes the presentation of research on educational processes in 14 countries, panel discussions on access to education and the role of innovations, as well as the “Gala Dedication to Teachers” — a ceremonial evening that became the central focus this year.

Presence of Educators and Ministers

The summit was attended by ministers of education and prominent educators. Countries from different corners of the world were represented — from Kenya to Brazil, including representatives from Ukraine, Lithuania, and Canada.

Discussed Topics and Statements

Olena Zelenska emphasized the importance of education for peace and development. She noted that narrow-minded perceptions often lead to aggression, while broad awareness contributes to the formation of tolerant and empathetic people. Key directions were discussed: access to education, technology, humanitarian values, and the role of teaching.

Education as the Foundation of Civilization

As part of the discussions, special panels were held dedicated to access to education and Innovations in education: from crisis to transformation. It is important to note that among the speakers were the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb. Zelensky emphasized that humanity should become the main value that promotes unity.

Alexander Stubb added that “education is the foundation of all civilization.” These words resonated with the overall theme of the event and emphasized the importance of education for the future.

Concluding Accents

Let us recall that the summit started on September 10 with the presentation of international research on the role of education in shaping personality and the cultural capital of the world. This event became an important platform for discussing current issues and exchanging experiences among first ladies and gentlemen from around the world.