Ben Stiller meets President Zelensky during trip to Ukraine
- 2 years ago
Hollywood star Ben Stiller has said 'seeking safety is a right and it needs to be upheld for every person' during a visit to Ukraine where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.
The actor, 56, arrived in Poland on Saturday and was pictured in the large south-eastern city of Rzeszow, close to the border, speaking to aid workers in a storage facility.
On Monday morning, Stiller, who is a long-term Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – the UN refugee agency – visited Ukraine on World Refugee Day.
The actor was seen walking among bombed out buildings in the city of Irpin where Russian forces have bombed residential buildings.
In a video posted to his Instagram account, Stiller said: 'Hey, I'm Ben Stiller, and I'm here in Ukraine. I'm meeting people who've been impacted by the war and hearing how it's changed their lives.
'War and violence are devastating people all over the world. Nobody chooses to flee their home. Seeking safety is a right, and it needs to be upheld for every person.'
He later met with President Zelensky where the pair discussed the importance of the world remembering the on-going conflict with Russia.
'Sir, really nice to meet you. Thanks for taking the time. You're my hero,' Stiller told Zelensky as he approached him and shook his hand.
The Hollywood star then complimented the President on his 'great acting career', to which Zelensky laughed, and replied: 'Not as great as you'.
Stiller then told him that he was inspired by Zelensky, 'for what you've done in this country and for the world'.
Footage emerged on Sunday of Hollywood actor in Ukraine after recently visiting refugees fleeing the war in Poland.
The Night At The Museum actor met with Ukrainian families afflicted by Russia's war, according to the UN's refugee agency.
He was videoed in Lviv, in western Ukraine speaking with people wearing UN insignia.
Earlier on Sunday Stiller, said he was at the Medyka border between Poland and Ukraine where he 'met families who fled the war in Ukraine, leaving loved ones behind, with no idea when they will be able to return home.'
The footage showed him speaking on the phone and then with what appeared to be resident's in Ukraine's western capital, in an unannounced visit.
'It's nice that people make this public and come to help on their own,' said a Ukrainian TikToker who spotted the celerity.
The actor, 56, arrived in Poland on Saturday and was pictured in the large south-eastern city of Rzeszow, close to the border, speaking to aid workers in a storage facility.
On Monday morning, Stiller, who is a long-term Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – the UN refugee agency – visited Ukraine on World Refugee Day.
The actor was seen walking among bombed out buildings in the city of Irpin where Russian forces have bombed residential buildings.
In a video posted to his Instagram account, Stiller said: 'Hey, I'm Ben Stiller, and I'm here in Ukraine. I'm meeting people who've been impacted by the war and hearing how it's changed their lives.
'War and violence are devastating people all over the world. Nobody chooses to flee their home. Seeking safety is a right, and it needs to be upheld for every person.'
He later met with President Zelensky where the pair discussed the importance of the world remembering the on-going conflict with Russia.
'Sir, really nice to meet you. Thanks for taking the time. You're my hero,' Stiller told Zelensky as he approached him and shook his hand.
The Hollywood star then complimented the President on his 'great acting career', to which Zelensky laughed, and replied: 'Not as great as you'.
Stiller then told him that he was inspired by Zelensky, 'for what you've done in this country and for the world'.
Footage emerged on Sunday of Hollywood actor in Ukraine after recently visiting refugees fleeing the war in Poland.
The Night At The Museum actor met with Ukrainian families afflicted by Russia's war, according to the UN's refugee agency.
He was videoed in Lviv, in western Ukraine speaking with people wearing UN insignia.
Earlier on Sunday Stiller, said he was at the Medyka border between Poland and Ukraine where he 'met families who fled the war in Ukraine, leaving loved ones behind, with no idea when they will be able to return home.'
The footage showed him speaking on the phone and then with what appeared to be resident's in Ukraine's western capital, in an unannounced visit.
'It's nice that people make this public and come to help on their own,' said a Ukrainian TikToker who spotted the celerity.