Hollywood star Ben Stiller paid a solidarity visit to Kyiv for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his role as UN Special Envoy. “It is a great honor for me, you are my hero,” said Stiller Zelenskyj in the Ukrainian capital on Monday. Referring to Zelenskyy’s speeches to audiences in different countries, Stiller told the Ukrainian President that it was “really inspiring” how he was mobilizing “his country and the whole world”.
The US actor Stiller visited Zelenskyj on the occasion of World Refugee Day. Zelenskyy’s presidential office published pictures of the meeting. Stiller had previously visited the Kiev suburb of Irpin, where fierce fighting was taking place at the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. “I feel that what is happening here is difficult to understand if you were not there,” said the 56-year-old to the President. It’s “something different” to see it on the spot and talk to people about it.
Selenskyj zu Stiller: “The visit is very important for us”
Zelenskyy thanked Stiller in English for his visit and told him it was “very important” to keep reminding people of what is happening in Ukraine. “It’s not interesting to talk about the war every day,” said Zelenskyy. “But for us it’s very important.”
Stiller and Selenskyj also exchanged views on their respective acting careers. Zelenskyy was best known in Ukraine before his election as president in 2019 for his role in the satirical TV series “Servant of the People”, in which he played a school teacher who unexpectedly becomes president.
“You gave up a great acting career,” said Stiller, who has become famous as a comedy actor in recent decades. “Not as big as yours,” Zelenskyy replied, whereupon they both laughed.
