Russian Director Urges Putin

Andrey Zvyagintsev, a renowned Russian film director, has sent a message to Vladimir Putin, urging him to end the war in Ukraine. Zvyagintsev made a similar appeal to Putin during the Cannes film festival awards ceremony, where he won the Grand Prix for his new film Minotaur. He asked Putin to stop the war, describing it as senseless and a massacre of young people.

Zvyagintsev's Message

Zvyagintsev's message to Putin was sent through official channels on Tuesday. In it, he stated that nothing good will come from the war if it is not stopped. He also responded to Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, who had rejected the idea of passing on Zvyagintsev's anti-war message. Zvyagintsev argued that he, like many Russian citizens, has been silenced by Putin and that the only rational action would be to end the war.

Kremlin Response

Peskov had previously stated that Zvyagintsev did not have the right to appeal for peace because he had never condemned the alleged violence against Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine. Zvyagintsev countered that this was hypocritical, as Putin had never heard the voices of Russian citizens. The Kremlin has not responded to Zvyagintsev's latest message.

Cannes Speech and Film

Zvyagintsev's Cannes speech has received criticism from some in Ukraine, who see it as part of a tradition of begging authorities for change rather than demanding it. His film, Minotaur, premiered at Cannes to positive reviews and is an adaptation of Claude Chabrol's 1969 erotic thriller The Unfaithful Wife. The film follows a business executive whose life is disrupted by the war in Ukraine.

Key points

• Andrey Zvyagintsev has sent a message to Vladimir Putin, urging him to end the war in Ukraine
• Zvyagintsev won the Grand Prix for his new film Minotaur at the Cannes film festival
• Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, rejected the idea of passing on Zvyagintsev's anti-war message
• Zvyagintsev argued that he, like many Russian citizens, has been silenced by Putin
• The Kremlin has not responded to Zvyagintsev's latest message
• Zvyagintsev's film, Minotaur, is an adaptation of Claude Chabrol's 1969 erotic thriller The Unfaithful Wife