Billionaire and founder of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson, came to Ukraine and met with Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as with Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Branson visited a residential area in Kyiv that had recently come under shelling, and then went to the region: to Gostomel to look at the remains of the An-225 Mriya, to Irpin and Bucha.
“It is clear that these kinds of attacks are neither random nor arbitrary. This is part of a deliberate strategy to instill terror and fear among the civilian population of Ukraine,” Branson was quoted by the Russian service of the BBC. “I hope that the Russian perpetrators of these shocking acts will be held accountable.”
Branson added that the main purpose of his trip to Kyiv was to meet Ukrainians, listen to them, understand their fears and concerns: “And also to find out what business, in partnership with civil society and governments, can do to most effectively support Ukraine.”
“I remain hopeful that Ukraine and its people will prevail and win this war by taking control of their territory, their sovereignty and their future path. But we all, more than ever, must unite and confront the threat that Ukraine and the whole world are facing,” the businessman believes.
Volodymyr Zelensky, following Branson's visit, wrote that they discussed, among other things, maintaining attention to the war in Ukraine.
David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction, also met with Branson, after which he said that the businessman promised Ukraine assistance in creating the new largest cargo aircraft in the world.
Actor Ben Stiller came to Ukraine in June. In May, U2 band members Bono and The Edge came to Kiev and staged a concert in the subway. Together with the Ukrainian group "Antitelya" and the Ukrainian military, they sang the song "Stand by Me" with the words "Stand by Ukraine". In April, a concert was held in Warsaw as part of a charity marathon in support of Ukraine, during which several billion dollars have already been raised. Then U2 soloist Bono recorded the song "Walk on Ukraine". Prior to that, he dedicated a poem to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At the end of April, actress Angelina Jolie visited Ukraine.