Hollywood legend and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told the Russian people the “truth” Thursday in a video posted across his social media platforms.
The seven-time Mr. Olympia lauded those protesting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the face of great risk.
At the 1961 World Weightlifting Championships, Yury Petrovich Vlasov captured the awe of a 14-year-old Schwarzenegger, and the strength of the Russian people continues to be a source of admiration for him, he said.
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“The world has seen your bravery. We know that you have suffered the consequences of your courage. You have been arrested, you have been jailed, and you have been beaten. You are my new heroes,” Schwarzenegger said.
The actor, famous for his portrayal of the T-800 in the Terminator franchise, announced to the Russian people and soldiers invading Ukraine that Putin is keeping the truth from them.
“No one likes to hear something critical of their government. I understand that,” Schwarzenegger said. “But, as a longtime friend of the Russian people, I hope that you will hear what I have to say.”
“I know that your government has told you that this is a war to de-Nazify Ukraine. De-Nazify Ukraine? This is not true.”
Ukraine has a Jewish president whose family has suffered tremendous loss at the hands of the Nazis, Schwarzenegger said.
“You see, Ukraine did not start this war. Neither did nationalists or Nazis,” the former governor said. “Those in power in the Kremlin started this war. This is not the Russian people’s war.”
The world has turned against Russia and condemned its bombings of a children’s hospital and a maternity hospital, he said.
“To President Putin, I say: You started this war,” Schwarzenegger said. “You are leading this war. You can stop this war.”
The former governor delivered his message with the same “heartfelt concern” he spoke to the American people with after there “was an attempted insurrection on Jan. 6,” he said.
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Watch the video to hear Schwarzenegger’s full statement.
