KYIV, Ukraine –
Actor Sean Penn, who’s making a documentary about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has loaned one in every of his two Oscars to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and advised him: “When you win, convey it again to Malibu.”
Zelenskyy’s workplace on Wednesday launched the video of the encounter throughout Penn’s most up-to-date go to to Ukraine, his third for the reason that Feb. 24 begin of the battle. The president tweeted that the Oscar was “an emblem of religion within the victory of our nation.”
Penn, who has been concerned in quite a few worldwide humanitarian and anti-war efforts through the years, advised Zelenskyy that each time he leaves Ukraine “I really feel like a traitor.”
“But if I do know that is right here with you then I’ll really feel higher and stronger for the fights,” Penn stated as he pulled the statuette from a black bag and positioned it on a desk in entrance of Zelenskyy. “When you win, convey it again to Malibu. Because I really feel significantly better realizing there’s a piece of me right here.”
Zelenskyy at first hesitated about accepting the statue, then quipped: “We have to win, fast.”
It wasn’t clear when the encounter occurred or which Oscar Penn left behind: Penn has gained two finest actor Academy Awards, in 2003 for “Mystic River” and in 2008 for “Milk.”
His publicist did not instantly reply to an electronic mail in search of particulars Wednesday.
Penn was one of many first individuals who visited Ukraine after Russian troops moved into the nation and he has been engaged on a documentary concerning the invasion.
During their assembly, Zelenskyy offered Penn with an award, the Ukrainian Order of Merit, which is given to residents for excellent achievements in economics, science, tradition, or army or political exercise. Established by former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma in 1996, the award’s previous recipients embody Ukrainian teachers and writers, in addition to Soviet-era army commanders.
The video launched by the president’s workplace then confirmed Penn and Zelenskyy strolling round Kyiv and arriving at Constitution Square, throughout from the Ukrainian parliament constructing and presidential palace, the place there’s a “Walk of the Brave” — a walkway lined with plaques honoring world leaders who’ve proven solidarity with Ukraine. The walkway, which was inaugurated in August, contains a sq. plaque laid within the floor engraved with Penn’s identify and the date Feb. 24, 2022, the beginning of the invasion.
Pointing to the plaque, Penn advised Zelenskyy that there have been three locations on the planet that have been the supply of his delight: “The place the place my daughter was born, the place the place my son was born and this. Thank you.”