Putin’s friend Steven Seagal sparks outrage by saying he sees both sides of the Ukraine war as ‘one family’

Steven Seagal sparked outrage after claiming that both sides of the Ukraine war were “one family” and blaming an “external entity” for spreading propaganda against the Russian invasion.

The 69-year-old actor, who is a friend of Vladimir Putin and took Russian citizenship in 2016, said he hoped for a “peaceful solution” after troops invaded Ukraine last week.

The Kremlin defender, who was appointed special envoy for humanitarian relations with the United States in 2018, previously supported Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and praised Putin as ‘one of the world’s greatest living leaders’.

The 69-year-old actor, who is a friend of Vladimir Putin and took Russian citizenship in 2016, said he hoped for a ‘peaceful solution’.

A star under siege said Fox News: Most of us have friends and family in Russia and Ukraine.

I look at both as one family and really think it’s an outside entity that spends huge amounts of money on advertising to stir up discord between the two countries.

“I pray that both countries can reach a positive and peaceful solution in which we can live together and prosper together in peace.”

The comments sparked outrage online, with many criticizing the actor for echoing the Kremlin’s lines and failing to condemn the Russian invasion.

The comments sparked outrage online, with many criticizing the actor for echoing the Kremlin’s lines and failing to condemn the Russian invasion.

Last year, the Hollywood star joined a pro-Kremlin party.

A video released by the party showed Seagal receiving a party membership card from a coalition called Just Russia – Patriots – For Truth.

It was formed earlier last year, when three left-wing parties, all supporting Putin, merged into one.

Seagal proposed a crackdown on companies that harm the environment.

“Without being able to arrest people, when we fine them, they probably make more money producing things that pollute the environment,” he said in his welcome speech at a party.

A video released by the party, Hollywood star Steven Seagal, on Saturday showed a party membership card from a coalition called Just Russia – Patriots – For Truth.

The party controls a faction in Russia’s lower house of parliament and plans to take part in parliamentary elections in September.

Seagal, an American-born martial artist, is known for producing and starring in action movies, while Putin, who granted him citizenship, is a fan of martial arts.

In 2018, Russia tasked Seagal with improving humanitarian relations with the United States at a time when relations between the two countries had deteriorated to their worst level since the Cold War.

As a Russian representative, Seagal visited Venezuela earlier last year and presented a samurai sword to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.