A News Agency

In a statement sent to CNN by his assistant on Monday, Allen said: “When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I believe Vladimir Putin is completely wrong.” He added: “But I never think that cutting off artistic conversations is ever a good way to help, no matter what politicians do.”

Allen’s statement came after the Ukrainian government criticized his decision to attend the event as the main guest over the weekend.

The Moscow International Film Week is supported by Russian state media, state companies, and the Moscow Mayor’s Office.

A photo posted on the festival’s official Telegram channel showed the 89-year-old director participating in a video conversation with Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk, a Putin ally and outspoken supporter of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to the festival’s press service, Allen said he admired Russian cinema and mentioned the Soviet version of “War and Peace,” directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk’s father, Sergey Bondarchuk.

Russian state media reported that during the session, Allen said he did not plan to make films in Russia but “only had good feelings toward Moscow and St. Petersburg.”

Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev claimed that Allen’s participation in the festival “proved that Russia is not isolated.”

In a post on X, Dmitriev wrote: “Attempts to cancel Woody Allen for a video appearance at the Moscow International Film Festival miss the point: Russia is not isolated, and art must build bridges, not destroy them.”