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Zelensky meets with chef José Andrés, highlighting fundraising for Ukraine
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Zelensky meets with chef José Andrés, highlighting fundraising for Ukraine

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with ambassadors of the fundraising platform UNITED24, including chef José Andrés.
  • The meeting highlighted Andrés's World Central Kitchen, which has provided significant aid to Ukrainians since the 2022 invasion.
  • UNITED24 has raised over $3.9 billion for Ukraine's defense, demining, medical aid, and reconstruction efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with key ambassadors for the UNITED24 fundraising platform, including renowned chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen. The gathering in Berlin underscored the ongoing international support for Ukraine's defense and humanitarian needs.

When the full-scale war began in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, José Andrés took a plane from Miami (USA) and within 24 hours he was in Poland.

— UNITED24Describing the rapid deployment of World Central Kitchen following the invasion.

Zelensky shared news of the meeting on Telegram, posting a photo of himself embracing Andrés. Other notable ambassadors present included Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick, American actor and director Liev Schreiber, Ukrainian footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Ukrainian war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov, who is set to join the ambassadorial team.

José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen (WCK) have been instrumental in providing aid to Ukrainians since the full-scale Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022. Andrés rapidly deployed to Poland and established field kitchens near the Ukrainian border within 24 hours, serving hot meals to refugees fleeing the conflict. WCK's operations have extended to cities like Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Lviv, Kherson, and Kramatorsk, at one point serving up to 200,000 meals daily.

WCK has worked in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Lviv, Kherson, and Kramatorsk, serving a total of 200,000 meals a day.

— UNITED24Detailing the scope of World Central Kitchen's operations in Ukraine.

During its initial seven months in Ukraine, WCK raised and distributed $300 million, forging partnerships with over 450 establishments. Zelensky previously recognized Andrés's contributions by awarding him the Order of Merit of the second degree in November 2022 and honoring him on the "Walk of the Valiant."

During the first seven months of work in Ukraine, the organization managed to raise and distribute $300 million and establish collaborative links with more than 450 establishments.

— UNITED24Quantifying the initial impact and resources mobilized by WCK.

Since becoming a UNITED24 ambassador in September 2023, José Andrés has contributed to the platform's impressive fundraising total. As of now, UNITED24 has amassed over $3.918 billion. These funds are directed towards critical areas including national defense, humanitarian demining, medical assistance, reconstruction projects, education, science, and sports initiatives, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to supporting Ukraine's recovery and resilience.

Zelensky thanked the chef for his help to Ukraine by awarding him the Order of Merit of the second degree in November 2022 and immortalizing his name on the 'Walk of the Valiant.'

— Article textHighlighting Zelensky's recognition of José Andrés's contributions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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