Ankara: A Ukrainian teacher, whose photo taken by Anadolu in 2022 became a symbol of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, expressed her gratitude to Trkiye for providing a platform to achieve peace in the war-torn country.

According to Anadolu Agency, Olena Kurylo expressed her appreciation to Trkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for facilitating peace efforts. She also acknowledged the contributions of the EU and US in trying to end the over three-year conflict in Ukraine, while urging the international community to take more decisive steps toward peace.

Kurylo emphasized that Europe could have taken more timely action, specifically through increased military aid and allowing Ukraine to retaliate earlier. She expressed that although grateful for the aid received, the support was delayed and insufficient during the early critical stages of the conflict. Kurylo believes that stronger support at that time could have potentially ended the war sooner.

She expressed skepticism about achieving peace through negotiations, citing concerns over potential demands from Russian President Vladimir Putin, which may include recognition of Ukrainian regions under Moscow's control as part of Russia. Kurylo reiterated the importance of Ukraine's territorial integrity, referencing the country's constitution which states that "Ukraine is a whole, indivisible. It cannot be divided or transferred."

Reflecting on her experiences with Trkiye, Kurylo shared her fond memories of a holiday she took there a year before the conflict began. She spoke highly of Trkiye's vibrant culture and expressed a desire to visit Istanbul, drawn by its reputation for architecture and history. Kurylo described Trkiye as a beautiful neighbor and expressed a hope to engage with its culture and environment in the future.