The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, spoke via video link with the star of the TV series "Vikings", a Canadian actress of Ukrainian background, director and producer Katheryn Winnick, who joined the ambassadors of the United24 fundraising platform.
The head of state thanked Katheryn Winnick for her support of Ukraine, powerful messages and warm words, which are very important for Ukrainians, especially on the days of the tragic anniversary of the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression.
"Thank you very much for being with us. We are grateful that you have decided to become a United24 ambassador and that you are the first female ambassador from Canada, with whom we have many connections," Volodymyr Zelensky said.
According to him, it is now very important to do everything so that the world does not forget about the war that is ongoing on the territory of Ukraine.
The President also emphasized that the priority is the reconstruction of our country.
Katheryn Winnick will take care of the "Reconstruction of Ukraine" direction and will open her collection through the platform to restore one of the 18 houses in the Kyiv region, which will be the first to be rebuilt within the framework of this program. In total, UAH 719 million is needed to restore these facilities. Thanks to United24 donors from 110 countries, more than UAH 510 million have already been collected.
"I understand how important it is for Ukrainian families to unite. People need to return home, rebuild their homes, so families can live together again," she said.
The actress, whose parents are descendants of Ukrainian emigrants who in 1940, escaping from the Soviet authorities, moved first to Germany and then to Canada, said that she is proud of her Ukrainian roots.
“I am proud of what you are doing and honored to be on the United24 team,†she said.
Volodymyr Zelensky invited Katheryn Winnick to come to Ukraine.
The actress has supported our country since the beginning of Russian aggression in 2014. She visited Ukraine on the 30th anniversary of independence. After the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, Katheryn Winnick founded the organization The Winnick Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid to Ukrainians affected by the war.
During the nine months of operation of the United24 fundraising platform initiated by the President of Ukraine, thanks to donations from more than 110 countries, more than 287 million dollars were collected. United24 ambassadors include singer and actress Barbra Streisand, actor Mark Hamill, band Imagine Dragons, art director of Balenciaga Demna, American actor Liev Schreiber, director Michel Azanavicius, astronaut Scott Kelly, historian Timothy Snyder, country singer Brad Paisley, prominent Ukrainian athletes Elina Svitolina, Andriy Shevchenko and Oleksandr Usyk.
