Sean Penn (left), Ben Stiller.Photo: Mike Marsland/WireImage; Amanda Edwards/WireImage
The U.S. and other countries have issued sanctions aimed at dozen of Russian officials — including Russian PresidentVladimir Putinand his adultdaughtersand alleged mistress — amid the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions effectively cut Putin and others off from any U.S. financial systems and free any assets they have within the U.S.
Others included on Russia’s banned list are Senators Kyrsten Sinema, Richard Scott, Patrick Toomey Jr. and Mark Kelly; Deputy Ministers of Trade Matthew Alexrod, Don Graves, Thea Kandler and Jeremy Pelter; and Minister of Commerce Gina Raimondo,Varietyreports.
Both Penn and Stiller have expressed their support for Ukraine amid the invasion.
Penn toldHollywood Authenticmagazine in April that he even thought about fighting on behalf of Ukraine.
“If you’ve been in Ukraine [fighting] has to cross your mind,” he said at the time. “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— is going on?”
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In a statement shared withPEOPLEin February, Penn expressed his thoughts on the horrors that the Ukrainian people are facing.
“[It is] already a brutal mistake of lives taken and hearts broken, and if he doesn’t relent, I believe [Russian president] Mr. [Vladimir] Putin will have made a most horrible mistake for all of humankind,” he said.
“President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy 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,” he added.
Fifty-six-year-old Stiller, meanwhile,met with Zelenskyyas part of his role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations.
Stiller spoke with the president about the needs of displaced Ukrainians, calling the president his “hero,” and noting the toll of the war.
Meanwhile, Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
source: people.com
