Sean Penn did not come to the Oscar Awards Gala because he is in Ukraine. The actor will meet with President Zelensky.

Sean Penn, an Oscar-winning American actor, is in Ukraine for a private visit, aiming to support the country in the context of the Russian invasion. At the age of 65, Penn has visited Ukraine several times since the beginning of the conflict in 2022 and intends to travel to the front lines. In 2023, he co-directed a documentary about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighting his rise from comedian to military leader.

The friendship between Penn and Zelensky has been emphasized in interviews, and in 2025, the two called for Western support for Ukraine at the Cannes International Film Festival, where they were photographed alongside Ukrainian soldiers.