Sean Penn Says He’s “Thinking About Taking Up Arms Against Russia” Just One Month After Fleeing Ukraine

Josh Berger |

Apr 15, 2022

Sean Penn during interview with Tracy Smith via CBS Sunday Morning, YouTube

Sean Penn recently made some interesting comments regarding the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine, as just over a month calling on the United States to fight for the invaded country, the actor is now claiming that he’s “thinking about taking up arms against Russia.”

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Writing from Kyiv, Ukraine in late February, the activist actor issued a statement asserting, “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.”

“President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have risen as historic symbols of courage and principle,” he went on. “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.”

Though he initially traveled to Ukraine to film a documentary on Russian’s invasion of the country, just three days after issuing his above call for Americans to join the fight against Russia, Penn fled on foot to Poland

“Myself & two colleagues walked miles to the Polish border after abandoning our car on the side of the road,” tweeted Penn as he shared a picture of himself leaving Ukraine. “Almost all the cars in this photo carry women & children only, most without any sign of luggage, and a car their only possession of value.”

However, Penn recently disclosed that he is not only ready to get back on the ground in Ukraine, but also now now willing to take up arms against the army of Russian President Vladimir Putin, admitting that he’s motivated by sheer curiosity.

“Look, my intention is to go back into Ukraine,” expressed Penn. “But I’m not an idiot, I am not certain what I can offer.”

He then declared, “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.”

“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,’” Penn added.

Asked by the outlet if he had hesitations regarding a return to the frontlines, Penn noted, “I’m never like a conflict zone journalist who stays months or years in a place that’s really sketchy, and never someone who had no choice but to be there and live there.”

“Nor am I a soldier. Statistically, I’ve never really taken any risks at all,” he continued. “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.”

“So, where I am in life is short of doing that, but if you’ve been in Ukraine [fighting] has to cross your mind,” Penn disclosed. “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 then admitted, “I think that we can be fascinated by conflict but also intellectually be very anti-war. If you have seen war, and I’ve seen a little bit of it, there’s a rite of passage while you are in or near it that has to do with some basic questions you ask yourself: how would I react?”

“Could I keep enough oxygen in my brain to make clear judgements?” he pondered. “Are you going to be damaged by being in a war, emotionally or psychologically “”Because there is always a cost to you or your loved ones. I think that there is a certain part of my own pursuits that is influenced by those questions that on some level demand answering.

“And so, yeah, I think it would be just not honest if I said that wasn’t a part of it,” he concluded.

What do you make of Penn’s desire to go back to Ukraine and his consideration of taking up arms against Russia? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below or on social media.

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