Orlando Bloom tells President Zelensky 'the strength of the Ukrainians is awe-inspiring as the actor discusses Putins crimes against children

Orlando Bloom tells President Zelensky 'the strength of the Ukrainians is awe-inspiring' as the actor and UN ambassador discusses Putin's 'horrific' war crimes against children
Bloom is a goodwill ambassador for the UN's children's organisation Unicef
He visited Irpin, Demydiv and Kyiv - where he met President Zelensky on Sunday


PUBLISHED: 03:24 EDT, 27 March 2023 | UPDATED: 07:30 EDT, 27 British Hollywood star Orlando Bloom has travelled to Ukraine to meet Volodymyr Zelensky, where he hailed the strength of the president's people during Vladimir Putin's invasion as 'awe inspiring'.

In his role as a goodwill ambassador for the UN children's organisation Unicef, the actor spent three days in the country and visited Kyiv, Irpin and Demydiv.

The star of the Pirates Of The Caribbean and Lord Of The Rings films said it was his first trip to Ukraine since 2016.

While in Kyiv, he met President Volodymyr Zelensky. The pair were seen in footage shot yesterday in the capital's presidential palace, where they discussed humanitarian projects and reconstruction efforts to help the children of Ukraine.

Bloom told Zelensky that his messaging since the war began was 'reflected in [the Ukrainian people's] courage and determination', and that the 'world was watching' after Putin was charged with war crimes over the deportation of children.

British Hollywood star Orlando Bloom visited Ukraine to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and children and families impacted by Vladimir Putin's invasion

Both men appeared somewhat star-struck, embracing and sharing an enthusiastic handshake upon meeting. Zelensky himself was an actor in Ukraine - playing a teacher who becomes president - before his stratospheric political rise.



Since becoming president in 2019, and since the invasion launched by Putin in February 2022, Zelensky has become one of the most famous people in the world, making regular appeals on the global stage for support while drawing praise for his wartime leadership.

'To see the children, to see in their eyes - its palpable - the anxiety... and yet the strength of the Ukrainian people is something that is really awe-inspiring,' Bloom told him. 'And of course your messaging is the reason for that. So it’s remarkable to see how you are holding this country.'

He assured the leader that Unicef was taking the issue of missing children very seriously 'as the rest of the world is watching' after Putin was charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) this month.



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