'United24': Ukraine President Zelensky Launches Crowdfunding Platform To Help Him Win Against Russia

Several Ukrainian cities have suffered vast destruction, with Russia pounding the country with missile strikes nine weeks into its invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a global crowdfunding platform on Thursday to assist Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and rebuilding the war-torn country's infrastructure, news agency AFP reported. Several Ukrainian cities have suffered vast destruction, with Russia pounding the country with missile strikes nine weeks into its invasion.

While launching the "United24" platform on Twitter, Zelensky said, "We launched United24 global initiative. Its first component is an online platform to raise funds in support of. Other projects and programs will be added soon. You can make a donation in one click from any country."

We launched United24 @U24_gov_ua global initiative.

Its 1st component is an online platform to raise funds in support of 🇺🇦. Other projects & programs will be added soon.

You can make a donation in 1 click from any country.

Together we will win!#united24 #thepoweroffreedom pic.twitter.com/notUt1P3ZF

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 5, 2022

"All funds will be transferred to the national bank of Ukraine and allocated to the relevant ministries,"Zelensky said, adding that his administration would provide a report on how the money was being used "every 24 hours."

The Ukrainian president urged ordinary people across the world to assist Kyiv in defeating Moscow. "Only together we have the potential to stop the war and to rebuild what Russia has destroyed," he further said. 

He stressed that "today Ukraine is fighting not only for its own freedom but for the freedom of the whole democratic world". "We will always remember your contribution to the victory of Ukraine, to the victory of freedom," Zelensky said.

It is not the first time the Ukrainian government has attempted to raise funds in this manner.

It developed a "Aid for Ukraine" website, donate.thedigital.gov.ua, in mid-March, in collaboration with crypto-firms FTX and Everstake, with all donations going to Ukraine's central bank.

The campaign, which allowed contributors to donate in ten different cryptocurrencies including as Bitcoin, ether, tether, and dogecoin, was an immediate success, with its official website tweeting on March 19: "Over $60 million contributed, with $10 million donated in only a few days!"

Kyiv has received military assistance from the West, but its force is still significantly smaller than Russia's.

On an almost daily basis, Zelensky, 44, has addressed parliaments throughout the world, pleading for assistance in the face of Moscow's offensive.

(With AFP Inputs)