Ben Stiller meets his “hero” Volodymyr Zelensky in kyiv

It’s a great honor for me […] you are my herosaid Ben Stiller, Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, during his meeting with President Zelensky, himself a former actor, on the occasion of World Refugee Day.

What you have done, the way you have mobilized the country, the world, it is truly an inspirationthe 56-year-old artist added, in reference to Mr. Zelensky’s countless speeches to audiences around the world asking for help for his country.

See the war with your own eyes

Earlier in the day, Ben Stiller had visited Irpin, a suburb of kyiv, where fierce fighting took place at the start of the invasion. It is also the closest point to the capital ever reached by the Russian army.

I feel like it’s hard to understand what’s really going on here without coming here, he told the president. I was in Irpin this morning […] and the actual level of destruction, you see it on TV, you see it on social media, but it’s another thing to really see it, feel it and then talk to people.

Speaking in English, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Ben Stiller for his visit and told him he was Very important for him to remind the world of what is happening in Ukraine.

It is essential for us that people do not forget. It’s not interesting to talk about the war every day […] but for us it is very importantexplained the Ukrainian leader.

Two comic actors

The pair also discussed their shared interest in comedy while laughing.

You gave up a great acting careerlaunched Ben Stiller, famous for humorous films like Zoolander, Mary has a je-ne-sais-quoi (There’s Something About Mary) and In-laws (Meet the Parents).

Not as much as yoursretorted Mr. Zelensky who, before being elected in 2019, starred in servant of the peoplea satirical series about a high school history teacher who accidentally becomes President of Ukraine.