Sean Penn Skips Oscars to Meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv

Actor Sean Penn chose to forgo the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, where he won his third Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on March 16, 2026. Penn received the award for his performance in the film One Battle After Another, with actor Kieran Culkin accepting on his behalf.

A ‘True Friend’ of Ukraine

President Zelenskyy publicly thanked Penn, calling him “a true friend of Ukraine” and acknowledging his consistent support since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Zelenskyy shared an image of the meeting on X, stating, “Sean, thanks to you we know what a true friend of Ukraine is. You have stood by Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war. This is still true today. And we know that you will continue to stand by our country and our people.” Kyiv Independent

Penn’s Ongoing Support for Ukraine

Penn has made multiple trips to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. He was present in the country on the first day of the invasion and subsequently filmed the documentary Superpower, which explores the war and Zelenskyy’s leadership. The documentary premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 24, 2023. Deadline

Previously, Penn presented one of his Oscars to Zelenskyy and advocated for the Ukrainian president to be allowed to address the Academy Awards ceremony. His humanitarian organization, CORE Response, has also provided financial aid to Ukrainian refugees. Kyiv Independent

Oscar Win for ‘One Battle After Another’

Sean Penn secured his third Academy Award, adding to his previous wins for Mystic River (2004) and Milk (2009), for his portrayal of Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw in One Battle After Another. The Independent The film also received accolades at the 2026 Oscars, including Best Picture. Deadline

In 2022, Ukraine awarded Penn the Order of Merit, third degree, in recognition of his support. Kyiv Independent