Woody Allen said that while he believed the war in Ukraine was “appalling”, his participation in a Russian film festival was not insulting to the victims of the raging conflict. He was responding after the Ukrainian foreign ministry condemned his appearance as a “disgrace”.

The director defended himself after the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused him of helping "whitewash" Russia's crimes.

American filmmaker Woody Allen has responded to criticism from Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding his participation in Moscow International Film Week. Source: Allen in a comment to The Guardian Quote from Allen: "When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine,