Allen's appearance, via video conference, put him at odds with the Hollywood establishment, which has embraced the Ukraine cause during Russia’s 3½-year war

Oscar-winning director Woody Allen has defended his appearance at a Moscow film festival following strong criticism from the Ukrainian government.

Woody Allen said that while he believed the war in Ukraine was “appalling”, his participation in a Russian film festival was not insulting to the victims of the raging conflict. He was responding after the Ukrainian foreign ministry condemned his appearance as a “disgrace”.

Trump could meet with Putin as early as next week if the Russian leader agrees to also meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, a White House official told NBC News.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” is set to broadcast an interview on Sunday with Russia’s foreign minister in which he says that “there is no meeting planned” between President Vladimir V. Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.