Sean Penn presents one of his Oscars to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Sean Penn is back in Ukraine. With a symbolic gift this time, it hopes to continue to raise morale in the war against Russia. During a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the capital Kyiv, Penn presented one of his Oscar statuettes to the president as a “symbolic” gesture to both Zelensky and the Ukrainian people amid the ongoing conflict. gave to

“It’s just a symbolic idiot, but knowing this is here will make you feel better and stronger enough to fight,” Penn told Zelensky during a visit. Then bring it back to Malibu, because it makes me feel good to know that a part of me is here.”

The Oscar, one of two Best Actor awards Penn won in 2004 and 2004 respectively, will stay in Ukraine until the end of the war.

In return, Zelensky awarded Penn with the Ukrainian Order of Merit, stating, “It’s not from me, it’s from Ukraine.”

“There are three places in the world that I’ve been proud of all my life,” Penn said. “Where my daughter was born, where my son was born, and this.”

Penn brought the Oscar with him as a symbol of integrity, but if the Academy doesn’t invite the Ukrainian president to the 2022 Oscars, he’ll be fine, despite Academy rules banning the sale of winners, etc. Previously vowed to “melt” the statue. Disposal of the Oscar statuette.

Penn said of former fellow actor Zelensky, “There’s nothing better than the Academy Awards giving him the chance to talk to all of us. He understands cinema and has had a very long and successful career in that field.” It’s someone who is.”

Penn said, “I understand the decision has been made not to do so. That’s not for me to comment on whether President Zelensky wanted to.”

Zelenskiy ultimately didn’t make an Oscar appearance, but he addressed the world at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

An entertainer himself before becoming president in 2019, Zelensky appeared via a pre-recorded message during the ceremony, introducing a performance by John Legend to fill the silence of war with music, It appealed to viewers to speak out on the ongoing conflict.

“In war you can’t choose who will survive and who will remain eternally silent,” Zelensky said in English at the time. “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. I sing to the wounded in the hospital, even to those who can’t hear.The music will break through anyway.”

“We defend our freedom. To live. To love. To make a sound,” he added. “In our country we are at war with Russia bringing horrific silence with bombs. Death, silence. Fill the silence with your music! Enter today to tell our story.”

Penn’s trip to Ukraine will be his third visit to the country. Penn, an outspoken supporter of fighting Ukraine and Russia, visited the war-torn country earlier this year to meet with Zelensky and Vise Documentary about conflict.

At the time, he issued a statement condemning President Vladimir Putin. “It is a brutal mistake that has already cost lives and broken hearts, and if he does not relent, I believe Mr Putin has committed the most terrible mistake of all mankind.” President Zelensky and Ukraine Our people have risen as a historic symbol of courage and principle.Ukraine is the point of a spear for democratically embracing our dreams.If we allow ourselves to fight alone, our soul as America will be lost. “

His continued efforts in Ukraine eventually put Penn on Russia’s permanent banned list, with Ben Stiller and 25 “high-ranking officials, representatives of the business and professional communities, and no longer legally I have joined the list of cultural figures who cannot enter the country.

Relevant content:

Ben Stiller and Sean Penn permanently banned from entering Russia

Sean Penn vows to ‘sniff’ Oscars if Zelensky isn’t invited to speak

Sean Penn walked miles to the Polish border after abandoning his car in Ukraine