Woody Allen has denied claims that his participation in a Moscow film festival was “whitewashing” Russian atrocities, after condemnation of his appearance by Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs.

Allen said in a statement to the Guardian: “When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine , I believe strongly that Vladimir Putin is totally in the wrong. The war he has caused is appalling. But, whatever politicians have done, I don’t feel cutting off artistic conversations is ever a good way to help.”

Allen had appeared on Sunday at Moscow international film week , via a remote link for a session hosted by film-maker Fyodor Bondarchuk, a long-term political ally of Putin and director of patriotic epics such as Stalingrad (2013) and the sci-fi film Attraction .

In a statement posted on soci

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