Jean Claude Van Damme has expressed his desire to visit Russia as an "ambassador of peace." In a video shared on Telegram by a pro-Russian journalist, the famous Hollywood actor conveyed his enthusiasm for this role, stating he would be "honoured" to take it on.
In his message directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, Van Damme said, "We want to come to Russia. We’ll try to do this the way you want to do this – to be an ambassador of peace." This isn’t the first time the Belgian-born action star has been to Russia; he attended a mixed martial arts event in Sochi back in 2010, sitting next to Putin.
Van Damme and Putin share a mutual interest in martial arts, with the Russian leader being a judo black belt. The two have reportedly known each other for years. In his video, Van Damme carefully sidestepped the sensitive topic of the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasizing that he would focus on "peace, sport, and happiness," avoiding political discussions. He concluded the video with a playful "big kiss for Putin."
While many celebrities have distanced themselves from Putin since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, some, like American actor Steven Seagal, have continued to support him. Seagal, who holds a Russian passport, serves as a special representative for humanitarian ties between Russia and the U.S.