Stephen Fry, a British actor and comedian, had a “terrific talk” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a recent visit to the war-torn country. Fry, 66, was invited to host a mental health summit in Kyiv, which he described as a “great honour”. He shared a picture of himself laughing with Mr. Zelenskiy, captioning it “With my new bestie. We had a terrific talk.” Fry mentioned that he’s met a few world leaders before, but none with whom he felt an instant connection like he did with Mr. Zelenskiy.
The meeting took place at the Presidential Offices in Kyiv, and according to Fry, Mr. Zelenskiy gifted him a “map of the country” and a tote bag adorned with the colours of Ukraine, hoping it would be “useful”. Fry reciprocated with a wish for Mr. Zelenskiy’s “good luck” and added “Slava Ukraine”, which means glory to Ukraine, upon departure.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy (Via Volodymyr Zelenskiy/Twitter)
During his visit, Fry was rushed into an air raid shelter, which was followed by an announcement warning of explosions in the city. Despite the threat of danger, Fry describes the Ukrainian people as showing “openness and care for their people”, which he believes is a sign of strength rather than weakness. He credits Ukraine for understanding that acknowledging and addressing mental health challenges is crucial, even in the midst of war.
Fry’s visit came amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Russian forces firing cruise missiles at Kyiv, bombarding Ukrainian ports, and a missile tearing through an outdoor market in eastern Ukraine, killing 17 people and wounding dozens. Despite the dire circumstances, Fry’s conversation with Mr. Zelenskiy seemed to offer a glimmer of hope, and his admiration for the Ukrainian people’s resilience has sparked admiration among his fans.
