President Jokowi with First Lady Visit Ukraine

TheIndonesia.id - Indonesian President Joko Widodo brought First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo to Kyiv, Ukraine, which is currently still a war zone. This action is considered a symbol of peace that Jokowi wants to convey to the world.

"The First Lady's participation is a message to the world that Indonesia cares about world peace and humanity," said Theofransus Litaay, Main Expert Expert at Deputy V of the Presidential Staff Office in Jakarta, Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

The First Lady's presence, said Theo, can be a symbol of peace and calmness that President Jokowi wants to display amid the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Previously, military and intelligence observer Ridlwan Habib said there are at least three meanings of First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo's participation in a historic visit to Ukraine. First, the participation of the First Lady as a symbol of Jokowi's peaceful diplomacy, to show that Indonesia has good intentions with the symbol of bringing his wife, the First Lady. According to her, the female side of the First Lady is synonymous with the meaning of peace, gentleness, and non-violence.

The second meaning, he said, was that President Jokowi wanted to show the international community that real support must be admitted in the form of courage to act. In this case, President Jokowi is very brave because he brings Iriana to enter the war zone.

The third meaning, he continued, is that the First Lady is a source of strength and stability for a President in his steps. In Javanese terminology, a wife is a "Garwa, Sigaraning Urip" (half-life) so she must be invited as a source of strength.

Based on Ridlwan's observations, Iriana became the first First Lady from Indonesia to enter a war zone.

President Joko Widodo and the First Lady and their limited entourage departed for Kyiv, Ukraine, by train from Przemysl Glowny Station in Przemysl City, Poland, Tuesday, June 28, at 21:15 local time.

President to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in seeking peace between Ukraine and Russia. The Head of State and his entourage boarded the extraordinary train prepared by the Ukrainian government, as was also used by state leaders who visited Ukraine some time ago. The president and his entourage are expected to take 12 hours to reach Kyiv.

President Jokowi also brought humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. Based on the photo received from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta, Wednesday, it appears that the humanitarian aid was packaged in white boxes that read "Indonesia Humanitarian Aid to the people of Ukraine".

It is not known what the contents of the humanitarian aid were. However, the assistance is expected to be handed over by President Jokowi to President Zelensky during their second meeting.