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"It's just a symbolic, silly thing," he said,
seated beside the Ukrainian leader at a ceremonial table and
pressing his hand on his arm to emphasize his words as aides
smiled and laughed. "When you win, bring it back to Malibu."
Zelenskiy presented Penn, who is making a documentary in Ukraine
and marking his third wartime visit, with the Order of Merit
honor for strengthening relations, backing Ukraine's territorial
integrity and helping to popularize the country, the president's
office said.
A video showed the two men on their way to view a plaque bearing
Penn's signature, dated Feb. 24, the date of the Russian
invasion, and set in the paving stones of an "Alley of Courage"
Zelenskiy inaugurated in August to honor friends of Ukraine.
Zelenskiy, a former comedian and actor, said later in his
nightly video address that Penn had been "doing everything to
help us gather international support" ever since he visited the
Ukrainian capital on the day of the invasion.
The alley, he said, was a sign of gratitude to prominent figures
who defend freedom with Ukrainians, but also "a reminder to all
future generations of our people that different people, forces
and industries united for our victory."
Other honorees named by Zelenskiy included the presidents of the
European Commission, Latvia and Poland, the prime ministers of
the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia and Boris Johnson, the
former British prime minister.
(Reporting by Elaine Monaghan in Washington, DC; Editing by
Lincoln Feast)
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