Sean Penn and Ben Stiller were among 25 “high-ranking officials, business representatives and experts, as well as cultural figures” banned from Russia by the country’s State Department today.
Also on the list are several U.S. trade officials, including Senators Rick Scott, Mark Kelly, Pat Toome, Kevin Cramer and Kristen Cinema, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the list was based on the “principle of reciprocity”.
Read more: “The hostile actions of the US government that pursue an anti-Russian course, destroy bilateral relations and intensify the conflict between Russia and the United States will continue to be absolutely rejected.”
Of course, the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than anything destroyed bilateral relations and intensified the conflict between Russia and the United States.
Penn traveled to Ukraine earlier this year, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and shot a documentary for the Vice President about the conflict with Russia.
While in Ukraine, Penn made the following statement:
It is already a terrible mistake in lost lives and broken hearts, and if he does not repent, I think Mr. Putin will make the most terrible mistake for all humanity. President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have become historical symbols of courage and principle. Ukraine is at the forefront of the democratic embrace of dreams. Our spirit as America is lost if we let it fight alone.
Before traveling to Kiev in June, Stiller visited Ukrainian refugees in Poland and spent time with President Volodymyr Zelensky on World Refugee Day as part of his duty as a representative of the UN refugee agency.
“I really admire the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the president,” he later said. “His incredible sense of how he got into this situation and gave his people the leadership and true determination to get out of this terrible situation.”
#WorldRefugeesDay https://t.co/YFz0x7UE4e
—Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) 20 June 2022
The deadline has reached the representatives of the two actors and will add the comments they receive.
Source: Deadline
Errol Villanueva is an author and lifestyle journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for exploring the latest trends in fashion, food, travel, and wellness, Errol’s articles are a must-read for anyone interested in living a stylish and fulfilling life.
