Sean Penn hands over Oscar to Zelensky as Ukraine war rages on

Sean Penn gives his Oscar over to Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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Sean Penn, 62, has given Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky his Oscar, telling him to bring the award back to Malibu when his nation emerges victorious from the war with Russia. The Hollywood actor has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February – with the Hollywood actor visiting the wartorn nation for a third time.

This is for you!

Sean Penn

Sean has been pictured on Tuesday getting his Oscar out of his bag during a meeting with the Ukrainian president.

Having already travelled to Kyiv twice this year, Sean regards Zelensky as a “great friend” and wanted to show his appreciation during today’s meeting.

The Hollywood actor could be seen withdrawing his Academy Award from his bag and placing it on the Ukrainian president’s desk.

He exclaimed: “This is for you. It’s just a symbolic silly thing, but if I know this is here with you then I’ll feel better and stronger for the fight…

Not just working in Hollywood, Sean wanted to show his support to Ukraine and was one of the first US actors to have made the journey to Ukraine after Russian forces crossed the border in February.

Sean was then banned from entering Russia in September, when Vladimir Putin added him, along with Ben Stiller, to the list of US citizens barred from the country.

The Mystic River actor was in Ukraine filming a documentary when Russia invaded and he was forced to flee and crossed into Poland like many Ukrainian refugees.

This has led Sean to build a close relationship with the Ukrainian president, even offering to put up arms if needed in the South East.

Speaking about Ukraine earlier this year, Sean admitted: “Part of what makes [Zelensky] so particularly extraordinary is that courage, he’s the face of so many Ukrainians.

“I mean this is leadership we aspire to, this is freedom of thought and true leadership that mostly is just so moving.

“If you’ve been in Ukraine [fighting] has to cross your mind. And you kind of think what century is this? Because I was at the gas station in Brentwood the other day and I’m now thinking about taking up arms against Russia? What the f— is going on?”

Ben Stiller meanwhile travelled to Ukraine this summer as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Meet the Parents actor told Zelensky: “It’s a great honor for me. It’s really wonderful. You’re my hero.”

Ben similarly sat down with the president for a meeting and discussion about Ukraine’s current climate.

Russian and Ukrainian forces remain locked in a stalemate throughout much of the south east of Ukraine as the war continues.

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