Woody Allen is defending his controversial appearance at Russia’s Moscow International Film Week, which prompted Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry to slam the director as a “disgrace” amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned the filmmaker, saying, “Culture must never be used to whitewash crimes or serve as a propaganda tool.”

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned Woody Allen for speaking virtually at a Russian film festival, calling his participation "a disgrace and an insult" to the victims of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.