Ukrainian President Zelensky Surprises Johns Hopkins with Commencement Speech

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky surprised graduates at Johns Hopkins University’s commencement by giving a speech about his country’s fight for freedom and the importance of time. Zelensky’s appearance was a closely held secret and came after the university’s president wrote him a letter. He praised the United States for its support of Ukraine and told the graduates that he had no doubt they would all become great doctors, lawyers, engineers, leaders of new technologies and businesses. Zelensky was awarded an honorary doctorate and his speech was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students “at a moment when the stakes are so high for the future of global democracy."