, before traveling the next day to the smaller towns of Kosice and Vysne Nemecke to meet with Ukrainians

U.S. first lady Jill Biden spent Mother’s Day in Slovakia, meeting with Ukrainian mothers who have been displaced by Russia’s war and assuring them that the “ hearts of the American people ” are behind them.... “ I cannot explain because I don’t know myself and I’m a teacher, ” Viktoriia Kutocha, who had her arms around her 7-year-old daughter, Yulia, told Biden.... ” seeming to seek an explanation for Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine on Feb....

" They need to understand why we are here and why we receive help-why are we separated from our husbands.... Biden, who spent the first two of her four-day tour in Romania, departs from the region on Monday.... Most of the refugees who crossed into Slovakia have travelled onward to other countries, but over 74, 000 have received temporary protection status in the country of 5.5 million....

Biden also will use her four days in Europe to highlight issues she promotes at home, such as support for U.S. service members, education and the welfare of children.... The centerpiece of the first lady's trip comes Sunday — Mother's Day — when Biden, a mother of three, meets with displaced Ukrainians who sought refuge across the border in Slovakia.... " I can only imagine the grief families are feeling, ” Jill Biden said this week....

Her trip over the border on Sunday to meet with Zelenska and refugees from elsewhere in Ukraine was a highpoint of the visit.... She brought them 50 gallons of ketchup after learning that base supplies of the condiment had run low.... She had the belly of her plane packed with seven trunks of supplies for refugees, including blankets, playing cards, coloring books and crayons, T-shirts, gardenia-scented candles, toiletry kits and other items....