Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted Rabbonim from the country’s major cities at his office in Kyiv in honor of Pesach, marking the fifth Pesach since the Russian invasion began in 2022.

During the gathering, which was organized by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), the Rabbonim presented the president with a package of matzos baked in Dnipro. They also gifted him a historic new Ukrainian-language translation of the Torah, the first of its kind.

The hour-long meeting focused heavily on the Yom Tov’s central theme of freedom. According to an attendee, the discussion centered on the fight against evil, the victory of light, and the hope that Pesach symbolizes. Notably, the president eschewed contemporary political grievances; making no mention of U.S. President Donald Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he has strained relationships and hasn’t spoken to in over a year. Instead, he emphasized that both Ukraine and Israel are praying for freedom and victory over the “axis of evil.”

Reflecting on the meeting, President Zelensky released the following statement: “On the occasion of Passover, I met with rabbis from Ukrainian cities and representatives of Jewish communities. Passover is about the triumph of freedom. This is exactly what all of Ukraine is fighting for today. I thanked the Jewish community for standing united with us in this struggle – for supporting people, helping communities, and praying for our state. I am grateful for a special gift – the first Torah translated into Ukrainian and printed at a Kharkiv bookstore that the Russians tried to destroy.”

An FJCU source noted to reporters that the reception was originally scheduled for Sunday, March 29, a date corresponding with the birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Harav Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zt”l. The event was ultimately rescheduled due to President Zelensky’s diplomatic visit to Jordan in the Middle East last week.