Sean Penn Skips Oscars to Meet with Zelenskyy in Ukraine

The actor calls the Ukrainian president a "true fiend" after receiving an award earlier that night.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:30pm

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Actor Sean Penn, who won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars, skipped the ceremony in Los Angeles to travel to Kyiv and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy shared a photo of the two meeting at the presidential office, thanking Penn for standing with Ukraine since the start of the war and calling him a "true friend."

Why it matters

Penn's decision to forgo the Oscars in favor of meeting with Zelenskyy highlights the actor's continued support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. As a high-profile Hollywood figure, Penn's visit and public praise for the Ukrainian leader could help raise further awareness and support for Ukraine on the global stage.

The details

Penn was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the film 'One Battle After Another.' However, instead of attending the Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Penn traveled to Kyiv to meet with Zelenskyy at the presidential office in the heavily guarded government district.

  • On Sunday, March 16, 2026, Penn won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars.
  • Later that same day, Penn skipped the Oscars ceremony to travel to Kyiv and meet with Zelenskyy.

The players

Sean Penn

An American actor who has won two previous Academy Awards for Best Actor and is now a three-time Oscar winner after receiving the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in 'One Battle After Another.'

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The current President of Ukraine, who has led the country's resistance against the Russian invasion since 2022.

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What they’re saying

“Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is. You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war. This is still true today. And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people.”

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (X)

The takeaway

Penn's decision to skip the Oscars and instead meet with Zelenskyy in Ukraine demonstrates the actor's continued commitment to supporting the Ukrainian people and their fight against the Russian invasion. His high-profile visit and public praise for the Ukrainian president could help galvanize further global support for Ukraine.