Actors and directors Sean Penn, 62, and Ben Stiller, 56, are among 25 “senior officials, representatives of the business communities, experts and cultural figures” banned from Russia today by that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Deadline. The Russian decision comes after the actors visited Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the midst of the war, which began in February.
Also on the list are Senators Rick Scott, Mark Kelley, Pat Toomey, Kevin Kramer, Krysten Sinema and several US trade officials, including US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the list is based on the “principle of reciprocity”.
“Hostile actions by US authorities, which continue to follow a Russophobic course, destroying bilateral ties and escalating confrontation between Russia and the United States, will continue to be resolutely rebuffed,” the ministry said.
Penn traveled to Ukraine earlier this year, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and filmed a documentary about the war with Russia for Vice. “It’s already a brutal mistake of lost lives and broken hearts, and if he doesn’t give in, I believe Putin will make a horrible mistake for all of humanity. President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people stood up as historic symbols of courage and principle.” said Penn at the time.
Stiller visited Ukrainian refugees in Poland in June before traveling to Kiev and, as part of his work representing the UN Refugee Agency, spent time with Zelensky on World Refugee Day. “I was really impressed by the resilience of the people of Ukraine and the president,” Stiller said in June.
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