Volodymyr Zelenskyy expresses gratitude to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher for their “commitment” in supporting Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher for raising more than $35 million.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher for their contributions in the face of Russia’s continued aggression on the country.
The Bad Moms actress, 38, and her husband, 44-year-old Ashton Kutcher, launched a campaign to raise funds and help humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, where Kunis was born and they surpassed their $30 million goal.
Zelenskyy praised the couple’s work, writing on Twitter on Sunday “@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 [Ukrainian] refugees.”
“Grateful for their support. Impressed by their determination,” he said along with a photo of a video call he held on a laptop with Kunis and Kutcher. “They inspire the world. #StandWithUkraine.”
Kutcher and Kunis posted on his Instagram page on Thursday that they had achieved their goal “We are overwhelmed with gratitude for your support. 2 weeks ago we asked you to join us and more than 65,000 of you stepped up and donated what you could. Now, with your help we have reached our $30 million goal.”
“While this is far from a solution for the problem,” they continued, “our collective effort will provide a softer landing for so many people as they forge ahead into their future of uncertainty. 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. Funds have already and will continue to be delivered to Flexport.org and Airbnb.org so they can act now.”
They also said “As funding continues to come in we will treat every dollar as if it were being donated from our pocket, with respect and honor for the work that went into earning it, the intent of love through which it was given, and the desire for it so be maximized for positive outcomes for others.”
After Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a large-scale invasion on February 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades — Russia’s attack on Ukraine has continued. The details of the fighting alter by the day, but hundreds of civilians, including children, have already been killed or injured. According to the United Nations, millions of Ukrainians have also left.
Kunis, who immigrated to the United States from Ukraine as a youngster in 1991, said she felt like “half of my heart just got ripped out” when she heard about the war in an interview with Maria Shriver last week.
The actress went on to say, “I don’t believe we should regard the Russian people as enemies. That is something I would want to emphasize. That isn’t said enough in the press, in my opinion. I believe that there is now a mentality that says, “If you’re not with us, you’re against us.” I don’t want people to mix together the two issues that are currently occurring. I don’t believe it’s the Russian people. I don’t want there to be a stereotype that “all Russians are bad people.” That is not the rhetoric I want to hear.”
“I do advise people to think at it from the perspective of, ‘It’s the people in power, not the people themselves,” she said.
