In a bid to interrupt your doom scrolling for the day, we have some good news and it arrives from Ukraine. At the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised celebrity couple Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher on Twitter for their ongoing contributions to the country’s war effort.
To date, the That 70s Show stars have raised $35 million USD (or roughly $47 million AUD) through Flexport and Airbnb. The couple took to Zoom to speak with the politician amid the Russian invasion.
“@aplusk & Mila Kunis were among the first to respond to our grief,” Zelensky wrote on social media. “They have already raised $35 million & are sending it to @flexport & @Airbnb to help [Ukraine flag emoji] refugees. Grateful for their support. Impressed by their determination. They inspire the world. #StandWithUkraine.”
.@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
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 20, 2022
The cause is especially close to Kunis’ heart. Unbeknown to many, the actress was actually born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, in 1983 but left with her family for the United States in 1991. The couple first set out to raise at least $30 million USD for Ukrainian refugees and vowed they would donate $3 million USD from their own funds.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for your support,” Kunis said in a thank you video posted on Kutcher’s Instagram last week (she doesn’t have her own social media). “Two 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, our collective effort will provide a softer landing for so many people as they forge ahead into their future of uncertainty,” she said.
Kutcher added, “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.”
Kutcher and Kunis are just two of many celebrities to rally around the country with monetary support. In February, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively pledged to match up to $1 million USD in aid to displaced Ukrainians. Gigi Hadid pledged her earnings from Paris Fashion Week to the country while elsewhere, Angelina Jolie is working as a long-serving ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
