Ovechkin ‘calls for peace’ but fails to denounce Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

It is a difficult situation. It is hard to see the war because I have friends in Russia and Ukraine. I hope it's over soon.

Please, no more war. It doesn't matter who is in the war, we have to live in peace.

He brushed off questions about whether or not he supports the invasion of Ukraine.

It was appropriate to ask the Washington Capitals star about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He is the most famous athlete in the world to publicly support the autocrat, and he started a social media movement called Putin Team.

“Today, I want to announce a social movement in the name of PutinTeam,” Ovechkin wrote in the post, accompanied by a photo of Ovechkin being embraced by the Russian leader. “Be a part of this team — to me it’s a privilege, it’s like the feeling of when you put on the jersey of the Russian team, knowing that the whole country is rooting for you.”

No one should have expected anything more than a perfunctory, PR-team prepared response to the questions. It was hilarious to see him party with the Cup, but no one ever accused him of being politically sophisticated.

If he ever decided to betray the master of the Kremlin, he could use his friends and family in Russia as leverage.

Nothing about Russian politics, especially in relation to U.S. interests, is easy to understand. There is no good guy in this U.S.-Russia proxy war, just the people of Russia and Ukraine, who are caught in the middle. This moment has been building since the overthrow of a Moscow-leaning government and increasing American influence in the region. Ovi was wise to not mention the fact that many Russians blame the United States for fomenting war in the region, to the potential benefit of U.S. oil companies and military contractors.

A few retweets would make it seem like this is simple.

Artemi Panarin, a star Russian player for the New York Rangers, has criticized Putin for the imprisonment of Navalny. If Navalny died in prison, Biden warned Putin. It turns out that Navalny isn't a good guy either, as he was labeled a prisoner of conscience byAmnesty International.

Everyone hopes that the crisis will be over and there will be peace.

It has always been easier to say you are anti-war than it has been to say you are against the government. If the vestige of the Cold War gets any hotter, that will be something to remember.