Sean Penn has opened up on , suggesting he’ll be heading back to offer any help he can to the country’s president .
The Mystic River actor was previously in Kyiv working on a documentary at the time Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of the neighbouring country in February.
Speaking now about helping provide aid to refugees in Poland, through his Core Response charity (Community Organized Relief Effort) – a non-profit organisation he co-founded with CEO Ann Lee during his time in Haiti – Penn still admitted while he wants to be of service he isn’t sure what he can offer Ukraine if he does return.
Penn, who shared his belief ‘we can be fascinated by conflict but also intellectually be very anti-war’, also explained more about how he first began speaking with Ukraine’s president, who has become an inspiration to many after dismissing , choosing to remain alongside those fighting.
‘I don’t spend a lot of time texting the president or his staff while they’re under siege and their people are being murdered,’ Penn said in a recent interview for the first issue of . ‘I’d probably send one message through the chief of staff. “Here’s what I’m looking to do that I think would be of value. You only have to answer me in one of two ways: don’t come or come and do what you’re planning, or come, but here’s where you could be more helpful.”‘
Through Core, the star is helping facilitate the receiving of Ukrainian refugees in Poland, with plans for the organisation to try and cross over the border to add to the resources that are so short for those still on the Ukrainian side.
Asked whether he was apprehensive about going back into a war zone, Penn told the magazine ‘statistically’ he’s ‘never really taken risks at all’ and isn’t a war journalist nor a soldier who is on the front line.
He went on: ‘The only possible reason for me staying in Ukraine longer last time would’ve been for me to be holding a rifle, probably without body armour, because as a foreigner, you would want to give that body armour to one of the civilian fighters who doesn’t have it or to a fighter with more skills than I have, or to a younger man or woman who could fight for longer or whatever.
‘So, where I am in life is short of doing that, but 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**k is going on?’
Penn famously was seen speaking to President Zelensky shortly before he returned to the US, amid the attacks.
Discussing the strikes on social media, the Fast Times at Ridgemont High actor previously described the Russian invasion as a ‘brutal mistake’.
‘Already a brutal mistake of lives taken and hearts broken, and if he doesn’t relent, I believe Mr. Putin will have made a most horrible mistake for all of humankind,’ he tweeted.
‘President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have risen as historic symbols of courage and principle.
‘Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams. If we allow it to fight alone, our soul as America is lost.’
Read Sean’s full interview with Hollywood Authentic, available online now.
