Alex Ovechkin on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ‘Please, no more war’
Anthony Scultore
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Alex Ovechkin, who did not address the media yesterday, spoke with them today and pleaded for an end to the conflict.
The Washington Capitals superstar, a native of Russia who was born in Moscow, asked for “no more war” while speaking to reporters on Friday in Philadelphia.
These were his first public comments since Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Thursday. According to media reports yesterday, Ovechkin wanted to gather his thoughts before responding on what is going on. It was relayed that he also had concerns for his family in Russia.
Alex Ovechkin: ‘Please no more war’
“Please, no more war,” Ovechkin said Friday from Philadelphia, one day prior to the Capitals squaring off against the host Flyers.
“It doesn’t matter who is in the war — Russia, Ukraine, different countries — I think we live in a world, like, we have to live in peace and a great world.”
Ovechkin,36, has received criticism for his longtime backing of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He expressed his support of Putin during an Instagram post in 2017, and his Instagram account features a picture of himself and the Russian president as his profile picture.
“I’m Russian, this is not in my hands,” he explained. “It’s a hard situation. It’s scary.”
Ovehkin on support of Putin
Ovechkin was asked about his feelings on Russian president Vladimir Putin. Previously, Ovechkin expressed his support of Putin during an Instagram post in 2017, and his Instagram account features a picture of himself and the Russian president as his profile picture.
“Well, he is my president. But how I said, I am not in politics. I am an athlete and you know, how I said, I hope everything is going to be done soon,” Ovechkin said. “It’s (a) hard situation right now for both sides and everything. Everything I hope is going to end. I’m not in control of this situation.”
Ovechkin’s wife, children and parents are in Russia. He said he is uncertain if they will remain there.
“My family is over there, of course I pay attention (to) what’s (happening) out there,” Ovechkin said. “I don’t want to see nobody get hurt, nobody get killed. How I said, I hope it’s going to be over and we’re gonna be living in a good world.”
–Field Level Media contributed to this report.