Coming out in support of Ukraine, veteran star Arnold Schwarzenegger recently made a strong appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin through a video message.
In a nine-minute address urging Putin to end the war in Ukraine, Arnold said, “I am sending this message on various channels to reach my dear Russian friends and Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine,” Schwarzenegger said in a nine-minute address. I’m sending.”
“Ukraine did not start this war,” the former California governor said in an emotional message posted to his Twitter account and other platforms to the Russian people and Russian soldiers.
“I’m talking to you today because there are things going on in the world that are being kept from you, terrible things you should know about,” he said in the powerful nine-minute video, subtitled in Russian.
“The strength and heart of the Russian people have always inspired me,” he said. “That’s why I hope you will let me tell you the truth about the war in Ukraine.”
“I know your government has told you that this is a war to ‘Nazify’ Ukraine,” he said. “This is not true. The people in power in the Kremlin started this war. This is not a war of the Russian people.”
Schwarzenegger said, “The world has turned against Russia because of its actions in Ukraine – entire city blocks have been flattened by Russian artillery and bombs, including a children’s hospital and a maternity hospital.
“Because of its brutality, Russia is now isolated from the society of nations,” he said.
Appealing to Russian soldiers, Schwarzenegger recalled the wounds his father inflicted while fighting for the Nazis in Russia during World War II.
“He was physically and mentally broken and lived the rest of his life in pain,” he said. “To the Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast… I don’t want you to break down like my father.
“This is not a war to defend Russia that your grandfather or your great-grandfather fought,” he said. “It is an illegal war. Your life, your limb, your future have been sacrificed for a senseless war condemned by the whole world.”
Addressing Putin directly, Schwarzenegger said: “You started this war. You are leading this war. You can stop this war.”
He closed the message with praise for risking the arrest of the Russians in protest of the war.
“The world has seen your bravery,” he said. “You are my new hero.”
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