Woody Allen is put in a pickle with appearance at the Moscow Film Festival

Woody Allen is defending his decision to appear at a Moscow Film Festival.

“When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I firmly believe that Vladimir Putin is totally wrong. The war he has caused is terrible,” he told The Guardian in a statement published Monday. “But, whatever politicians have done, I don’t feel that cutting artistic conversations is a good way to help.”

Allen’s apology occurs after the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the director to help “run” Russia’s reputation when speaking during an event organized by Putin Ally and a filmmaker, Fyodor Bondarchuk. Allen did not attend the talk in person, but appeared by video.

“The participation of Woody Allen in the International Moscow Cinema Week is a shame and an insult to the sacrifice of Ukrainian actors and filmmakers who have been killed or wounded by Russian war criminals in their current war against Ukraine,” the ministry said in a position on social networks.

Sergione Infuso – Corbis through Getty Images

“By participating in a festival that brings together the followers and voices of Putin, Allen chooses to turn a blind eye to the atrocities that Russia commits in Ukraine every day for 11 years,” the statement continued.

“Culture should never be used to bleach crimes or serve as a propaganda tool,” he continued. “We strongly condemn Woody Allen’s decision to bless Moscow’s bloody festival with his speech.”

According to the Russian media, the Oscar winner talked about his love for Russian cinema during the event and said he has “good feelings for Moscow and St. Petersburg.”

The filmmaker born at the Bronx produced his last two films in Europe after Amazon Studios canceled a multimobolier agreement with him after the accusations of resurgence that he abused his daughter Dylan Farrow. Allen has denied having acted badly.