Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday condemned U.S. filmmaker Woody Allen for appearing by videoconference at the Moscow International Film Week a day earlier, calling his participation “a disgrace and an insult” to Ukrainian actors and filmmakers who have been killed or wounded since Russia’s 2022 invasion. The ministry said culture should not be used to “whitewash crimes” or serve as a propaganda tool and urged continued international isolation of Russia in cultural and sporting arenas. Allen, 89, addressed festival-goers on Sunday through a giant screen in a Moscow cinema. The session was moderated by Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk, an outspoken supporter of President Vladimir Putin. Russian state media quoted Allen as praising Russian cinema and saying he would consider shooting a film in Moscow or St. Petersburg if invited. In statements to The Guardian and the Associated Press, Allen denounced Russia’s war but argued that severing artistic exchanges is counter-productive. “Vladimir Putin is totally in the wrong,” he said, adding that halting cultural dialogue would not help end the conflict. The appearance sparked wider controversy within Ukraine, where local media reported that Allen had been added to the Myrotvorets, or “Peacemaker,” online database that lists perceived foes of the country. The uproar underscores Kyiv’s strategy of pressuring Western cultural figures to avoid Russian platforms while the war continues.