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22nd Mar 2022

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praises Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis for $30 million fundraiser

Tara Trevaskis Hoskin

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has praised Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis for their efforts in helping Ukraine. 

The famous couple has raised over $30 million to aid refugees who are fleeing war-torn Ukraine. 

The president who is currently fighting on the front line took time to host a video call to thank the pair for all of their help. 

 

In an Instagram post by President Zelensky he  said that the couple were among the first to respond to their grief and also mentioned Mila’s Ukrainian roots. 

Mila Kunis is Ukrainian and was born in a city called Chernivtsi before moving to America with her family at age 7. 

In an Instagram video message from Ashton’s account, Mila said; “I’ve always considered myself American – a proud American.”

“I love everything this country has done for myself and my family. But today I have never been more proud to be Ukrainian,” she said. 

In order to help those in her home country, Mila and Ashton decided to match up to $3 million in donations through a GoFund Me with the donations going to Airbnb and Flexport. 

Airbnb is providing refugees fleeing Ukraine with free, short-term accommodation so they have somewhere to stay when they make it out safely. 

Flexport is an organisation that is sending shipments of aid and relief to refugees fleeing Ukraine and making it to refugee sites in Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. 

Although they have now reached their goal, they have promised to keep the momentum from the campaign going. 

In their Instagram video post, the couple said; “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.”

Zelensky also took the time to thank the couple on Twitter, saying; “Grateful for their support. Impressed by their determination. They inspire the world.”

 

Other celebrities are also joining in to help the people of Ukraine with David Beckham handing over his Instagram account to a Ukrainian doctor so she can share important information, and we saw The Late Late Show here raise €2 million.