Arnold Schwarzenegger Tapes Video to Russia, Telling Putin: ‘Cease This Conflict’

In a response to a Twitter publish from Mr. Ketchell sharing Mr. Schwarzenegger’s video, Rob Flaherty, the White Home director of digital technique, referred to as the assertion “actually, actually outstanding.”

Mr. Ketchell mentioned, nevertheless, that the video was made with out the information or involvement of President Biden’s administration, which has approached other social media influencers with requests to assist fight disinformation.

“This got here from Arnold’s coronary heart, not the federal government,” Mr. Ketchell mentioned.

Like many high-profile figures, Mr. Schwarzenegger initially expressed sympathy and solidarity with the Ukrainian individuals within the rapid aftermath of the Russian assault, however had in any other case kept away from commenting extensively on the state of affairs. Because the state of affairs has worsened, Mr. Ketchell mentioned, the celeb has been inundated on social media with pleas, notably from Europe, to leverage his platform.

He mentioned the warfare additionally was weighing on Mr. Schwarzenegger personally. The previous governor, born in Austria, refers within the video to the traumatic warfare expertise of his father, who fought with the Nazi military when it attacked Leningrad throughout World Conflict II.

Late final week after conversations with a variety of associates and advisers, Mr. Ketchell mentioned, Mr. Schwarzenegger determined to ship an deal with like the one he had posted last year, condemning efforts by the American proper wing to overturn the 2020 presidential election. These remarks garnered greater than 70 million web page views.

In his remarks about Ukraine, which have been additionally posted on Telegram, the place many Russians can still access information blocked by the federal government, Mr. Schwarzenegger referred to as the invasion an “unlawful warfare” and a “human disaster,” and advised Russian troopers that “your lives, your limbs, your futures are being sacrificed for a mindless warfare being condemned by your complete world.”