Maria

I have had to flee war twice in my life. The first time was from Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2014, and the second was from Kyiv in 2022. Life brought me and my two daughters to France. I refused to give up and immediately began studying to qualify as a lawyer here as I had worked as a lawyer in Ukraine. I am good at handling difficult situations. I stay calm under stress, do not panic and make thoughtful, practical decisions. My friends joke that crisis management is my calling. I always try to talk things through and find a solution that works for everyone, even if that means making compromises.

My life is quite full: I continue to learn the language, study, work and spend time with my children. I am someone who is never idle. I am spontaneous and can set off with friends to explore an interesting place or discover something new without thinking about it for too long. I love welcoming guests into my home and organizing celebrations for adults and children. I enjoy creating happy memories for people. I love hiking challenging trails, occasionally go running and work out at the gym with a trainer. I read a lot about psychology and subjects related to my profession and I try to stay informed about the news and the political situation.

I am a woman who responds warmly to a man’s kindness and care. It is very important to me that my partner is caring and kind-hearted. I value sincerity and looking after one another. I would like to build a relationship based on mutual respect and support with clear roles and a shared commitment to making each other’s lives better and happier.