Ben Stiller meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv, tells president ‘You’re my hero’ – Nationwide

Actor and director Ben Stiller met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday to mark World Refugee Day.

Stiller, who was visiting Ukraine as a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), gushed about Zelenskyy upon assembly, telling the president, “You’re wonderful.”

Stiller’s go to to the nation comes because the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to power tens of millions of individuals to flee the battle and turn out to be displaced internationally.

The pair shook palms in introduction and Zelenskyy instructed the Zoolander actor that he and the opposite authorities officers within the room (together with Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba) knew Stiller “very effectively.”

“It’s a fantastic honour for me,” Stiller, 56, instructed Zelenskyy, 44.

“It’s actually fantastic,” Stiller continued, telling the Ukrainian chief, “You’re my hero.”

The pair briefly mentioned Zelenskyy’s personal appearing profession. Up till his landslide election win in 2019, Zelenskyy was an actor and humorist. He had even performed a Ukrainian president in a well-liked TV collection.

“You stop a fantastic appearing profession for this,” Stiller mused.

“Not so nice as yours,” Zelenskyy replied.

“However what you’ve finished and the way in which you rallied the nation and the world, it’s actually inspiring,” Stiller continued to go with.

Later, Stiller, Zelenskyy and a number of other different Ukrainian officers sat down to debate the Russian invasion and its influence on the nation’s folks.

“It’s not attention-grabbing to discuss the battle daily,” Zelenskyy defined. “However for us, it’s essential.”

The Ukrainian president stated ending the battle turns into particularly troublesome when “folks neglect to discuss it.”

Russia launched its invasion of the nation practically 4 months in the past on Feb. 24.

Zelenskyy thanked Stiller for persevering with to deliver new consideration to the battle.

“I really feel it’s exhausting to grasp what’s truly happening right here should you haven’t been right here,” Stiller stated.

“The extent of destruction … You see it on TV, you see it on social media,” stated Stiller. “It’s one thing else to really see it and really feel it.”

The actor instructed Zelenskyy that he had simply visited Irpin, a metropolis near Kyiv in northern Ukraine.

In accordance with a press launch from the president’s workplace, Stiller visited Irpin to talk to individuals who have survived the occupation.

The UNHCR additionally launched a press release, claiming the journey to Irpin will “allow Mr. Stiller to speak the necessity for continued and elevated help to the humanitarian response in Ukraine.”

The UNHCR assertion claimed Stiller visited Makariv as effectively, with the intention to go to households whose houses have been destroyed.

“What you noticed in Irpin is unquestionably dreadful,” Zelenskyy confirmed. “However it’s even worse to only think about what is going on within the settlements which can be nonetheless beneath non permanent occupation within the east.”

Following his assembly with Zelenskyy, Stiller tweeted about World Refugee Day. The actor wrote it was an “honour” to fulfill the president “to face in solidarity with folks compelled to flee in Ukraine and worldwide, and produce extra consideration to the humanitarian scenario.”

Whereas in Ukraine, Stiller additionally met the brand new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink. On Twitter, Brink wrote that Stiller’s go to “brings much-needed consideration to humanitarian wants throughout the largest and quickest humanitarian disaster in current reminiscence.”

Earlier this week, Stiller additionally visited Poland. There, he met with refugees who have been compelled to flee to the neighbouring nation. In accordance with the UNHCR, Stiller met a mom and her three kids who fled Kharkiv two months in the past.

“Shortly after she and her kids fled, her father was killed again dwelling in Kharkiv after a bomb fell on her dad or mum’s condominium constructing,” the assertion claims. “The household wish to return dwelling to Ukraine however the neighbourhood the place they’re from has been devastated by the battle.”

Stiller will not be the one movie star to go to Ukraine. In April, Angelina Jolie visited the nation to fulfill kids effected by the battle. Sean Penn additionally visited Ukraine to make a documentary in regards to the Russian invasion.

Since Russia’s invasion in February, greater than 12 million Ukrainian residents have fled their houses, in response to the United Nations. Greater than 5 million Ukrainian refugees have been recorded in Europe, whereas one other seven million individuals are believed to be displaced nonetheless throughout the nation.

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Behind-the-scenes with a World Information battle reporter

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