'They inspire the world': Ukraine president holds video call with Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher

‘They inspire the world’: Ukraine president holds video call with Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher

Mar 21, 2022

Ukraine’s president has held a video call with Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher to thank them for their multimillion-dollar fundraising efforts to help those fleeing the war-torn country.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a photo of the call on his Twitter page, praising the Hollywood stars for being “among the first to respond to our grief” following Russia’s invasion.

Kunis, 38, was born in Chernivtsi, in western Ukraine; her family left the country and moved to Los Angeles when she was seven.

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.@aplusk & Mila Kunis were among the first to respond to our grief. They have already raised $35 million & are sending it to @flexport & @Airbnb to help 🇺🇦 refugees. Grateful for their support. Impressed by their determination. They inspire the world. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/paa0TjJseu

She and Kutcher have raised about $35 million (£26.5m) after setting up a fund to support refugees, with the money going to the freight transportation company Flexport, which is taking supplies across Europe, and Airbnb, which is providing free, short-term housing.

“Grateful for their support,” Mr Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter. “Impressed by their determination. They inspire the world. #StandWithUkraine.”

About 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced since the war began, including some 3.4 million who have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the United Nations.

Announcing their fund earlier in March, Kunis said she was a “proud American” but had also “never been more proud to be a Ukrainian”.

The couple had initially pledged to match donations up to $3m (£2.3m).

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In her appeal video, Kunis said: “Donate what you can. The people of Ukraine are strong and brave but being strong and brave doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of support. We need to support the people of Ukraine. Please help us.”

“The principal challenge right now is logistics,” Kutcher added. “We need to get housing and we need to get supplies and resources into the area.”

In their latest Instagram video on the appeal, posted on Friday, the couple said more than 65,000 people had donated to their GoFundMe page, helping them to exceed their original target of $30m.

“While this is far from a solution for the problem, our collective effort will provide a softer landing for so many people as they forge ahead into their future of uncertainty,” they said.

“Our work is not done. We will do everything we can to ensure that the outpouring of love that came as a part of this campaign finds maximum impact with those in need.”

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