Arnold Schwarzenegger appeals to Vladimir Putin

In a video (Twitter) message lasting about nine minutes, Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke out about the Ukraine war. The actor and ex-governor of California addressed the Russian people and the soldiers currently fighting for the country in the Ukraine war. "There are things in the world that have been kept from you, terrible things that you should know about."

His personal history with Russia

Before he talks about those realities, however, he wants to tell about the Russian "who became my hero." Schwarzenegger describes an encounter with weightlifter Yuri Vlasov, whom he idolized as a young boy and who inspired him to lift weights, the former bodybuilder explains.

Later trips to Russia for his bodybuilding and for films would have intensified his connection to the country. The 1988 film "Red Heat," in which Schwarzenegger played a role, was even the first U.S. film to receive permission to shoot in Moscow's Red Square, the 74-year-old recalls. All of this, he said, shows that he has "nothing but affection and respect" for the Russians.

"The truth about the war in Ukraine."

Therefore, he said, he wanted to tell them "the truth about the war in Ukraine." In doing so, he said, he spoke with "the same concern" with which he spoke to Americans after storming the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6: "There are moments like this that are so wrong that we have to raise our voices."

The Russian government, he said, has been telling the population that the war is for the "denazification" of Ukraine. "This is not true. Ukraine is a country with a Jewish president whose uncle was murdered by the Nazis in World War II," Schwarzenegger stressed. Ukraine did not start that war, he said. The war against Ukraine is also not the war of the Russian people, but the powerful in the Kremlin started it, the 74-year-old said.

The "illegal" and "senseless" war, with three million refugees who have already left Ukraine, is a "humanitarian disaster," Schwarzenegger declared, backing up his statement with photos and videos of the attacks and destruction. Russians also are not being told the truth about what the war means for their own country, he said. Schwarzenegger addressed the soldiers killed and the sanctions against Russia.

Putin could "end the war"

The Russian people and Russian soldiers in Ukraine need to be aware of the propaganda and misinformation and join him in "spreading the truth," Schwarzenegger said. He then turns directly to Vladimir Putin: "You started this war, you are fighting this war, you can end this war."

Finally, Schwarzenegger addresses the brave people who have openly protested the war in the country, some of whom have been arrested and jailed: "The world has seen your courage. You have the strength of Yuri Vlasov. You are my new heroes."