SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 12, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) – Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Salt Lake City.
The Ukrainian leader and his wife, First Lady Zelenska touched down in Salt Lake City Thursday around 10:15 p.m before being escorted by police motorcade to the Grand America Hotel where he’ll address the National Governors Association meeting Friday.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who serves as NGA chairman, welcomed Zelenskyy late Thursday night in a post on social media. “We’re honored to welcome President Zelenskyy and First Lady Zalenska to Utah and the National Governors Association. Utah stands behind Ukraine and we look forward to hearing his message to the nation’s governors.”
The governors are joining federal officials and leaders from business, academia and philanthropy for bipartisan conversations around top issues in states, commonwealths and territories.
Zelenskyy made his way to Utah just hours after attending the NATO summit in Washington, D.C.
Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey also is scheduled to attend Friday’s session of the two-day event which started Thursday.
Scheduled events at the NGA meeting include:
- A conversation with Cox and former U.S. Senator and current University of Florida President Ben Sasse.
- A presentation on study results of commercials for Cox’s Disagree Better initiative by Rob Willer, a professor of sociology, psychology and business at Stanford University.
- The release of online Disagree Better credentials from institutions in the Presidents Forum, a nonprofit membership organization of innovation-minded college and university presidents.
- A task force session that will explore strategies for advancing educational excellence, bolstering national security and cyber defense, and navigating economic and infrastructure challenges in a global marketplace.
- A discussion on the role of culture in polarization between Cox, McConaughey and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who also serves as NGA vice chairman.
- The transition of NGA leadership and introduction of Gov. Polis’ 2024–25 Chair’s Initiative.
