“Terminator” star Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday called on Vladimir Putin to end the “irrelevant” war in Ukraine, and praised the Russians protesting against the conflict as his “new heroes”.
“Ukraine has not started this war,” the former governor of California said in an emotional message to the Russian people and Russian soldiers posted on his Twitter account and other platforms.
“I’m talking to you today because things are happening in the world that are hidden from you, terrible things you need to know,” he said in a strong nine-minute video with Russian subtitles.
The former Austrian-born bodybuilding master, whose film “Red Heat” was the first American film to be screened in Moscow’s Red Square, spoke of his love for the Russian people and met his idol, Russian weightlifter Yuri Vlasov, when he was 14 years old. years old. years old. old.
“The energies and hearts of the Russians have always inspired me,” he said. “That’s why I hope you’ll let me tell you the truth about the war in Ukraine.”
“I know your government has told you that this is a war to denationalize ‘Ukraine,'” he said. “That’s not true. This war was started by those in power in the Kremlin. This is not a war of the people in Russia.”
Schwarzenegger said that “the world has turned against Russia because of its actions in Ukraine – entire city blocks have been razed to the ground 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 the countries,” he said.
When convening Russian troops, Schwarzenegger recalled the wounds his father had suffered during World War II for the Nazis in Russia. “He was physically and mentally injured and spent the rest of his life in pain,” she said. “Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast … I don’t want you to be broken like my father.
“It’s not a war to protect Russia in which your grandparents or great-grandparents fought,” he said. “It’s an illegal war. Your life, your arms, your future have been sacrificed to the senseless war that must be waged around the world. ”
Schwarzenegger said directly to Putin, “You started this war. You fought this war. You can stop this war.”
He ended the message with praise for the Russians, who risked protesting the war.
“The world sees your courage,” he said. “You are my new heroes.” (AFP)
