In a comment to the British publication The Guardian, Woody Allen said:
“When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I firmly believe that Vladimir Putin is completely wrong. The war he started is terrible. But no matter what politicians do, stopping cultural conversations is not the right way,” he says.
The director participated online in the International Film Week in Moscow. The conversation was led by Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk. During the conversation, Allen said he values Russian cinema and that he had previously been to both Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Allen's participation "shameful." Shortly thereafter, the director was added to the "Myrotvorets" (Peacemaker) database.
