Featured Image Credit: alamy/zelenskiy_official/instagram
Topics: Sean Penn, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia, Ukraine, World News
Shola Lee
Topics: Sean Penn, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia, Ukraine, World News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and actor Sean Penn have sat down to discuss the ongoing Russian invasion.
Penn reportedly wants to produce a documentary about the conflict, which began yesterday, February 24, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Penn is said to have attended a number of media briefings in Kyiv and has met with other government officials.
Discussing the interview on Facebook, the Ukrainian president's office wrote, 'Sean Penn demonstrates the courage that many others, especially Western politicians lack.'
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It added, 'The director specially came to Kyiv to record all the events that are currently happening in Ukraine and to tell the world the truth about Russia's invasion of our country.'
The office continued to state that Penn went to Kyiv in the hops of telling the world 'the truth' about the Russian invasion.
They continued to say, 'Our country is grateful to him for such a show of courage and honesty.'
Zelensky, who prior to becoming president worked in the entertainment industry, posted the video of their meeting to his Instagram story.
As per Newsweek, 'Penn has visited the Office of the President and spoken with deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk, as well as local journalists and members of the Ukrainian military.'
The actor flew out to Kyiv to complete the documentary on the invasion, which is being made with Vice Studios, Variety says.
When asked about the documentary, the Vice Media Group told CNN that is was a 'Vice Studios production in association with VICE World News and Endeavor Content'.
As per Sky News, Penn went to Ukraine in November 2021, where he was said to have met with Ukrainian forces as tensions mounted with Russia.
Penn has produced a number of anti-war and humanitarian projects over the years.
In 2020, he released the documentary Citizen Penn on Discovery+, which detailed the actor setting up a profit organisation known as the Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE).
While it is unclear how long Penn will be in Kyiv, citizens have been urged to inform the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence about Russia movements in the city.
In a post shared to Facebook, the ministry said, 'We urge citizens to inform us of troop movements, to make Molotov cocktails, and neutralise the enemy.'
The news comes as Kyiv's mayor declared that the city's 'defensive phase' had begun.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.