Russia tasks Hollywood actor Seagal with improving U.S. ties

[rooster59]

Russia tasks Hollywood actor Seagal with improving U.S. ties

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. actor Steven Seagal watches the Victory Day parade, marking the 73rd anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at Red Square in Moscow, Russia May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it had made U.S. actor Steven Seagal its special representative for Russian-U.S. humanitarian ties, a role it said was meant to deepen cultural, art and youth ties between the two countries.

 

President Vladimir Putin presented a Russian passport to U.S. actor Steven Seagal in 2016, saying he hoped it would serve as a symbol of how fractious ties between Moscow and Washington were starting to improve.

 

Since then, U.S.-Russia relations have only got worse however with U.S. intelligence agencies accusing Moscow of interfering in Donald Trump's White House run, an allegation Russia denies. The two countries are also at odds over Syria and Ukraine.

 

The Russian Foreign Ministry likened Seagal's new role to that of a U.N. goodwill ambassador and said that the actor, who is known for his martial arts prowess, would receive no salary.

 

"It's a case of people's diplomacy intersecting with traditional diplomacy," the ministry said.

 

Seagal, who sometimes appears on Russian state TV to talk about his views and career, was cited by Kremlin-backed TV station RT as welcoming the appointment.

 

"I've always had a very strong desire to do all I can to help improve Russian-American relations," RT cited Seagal as saying. "I have worked tirelessly in this direction for many years unofficially and I am now very grateful for the opportunity to do the same thing officially."

 

For more than a decade Seagal, who according to his own website is 66, has been a regular visitor to Russia. His movies, including such titles as "Under Siege" and "Sniper: Special Ops," are popular with Russian audiences.

 

President Putin is also a fan of the kind of martial arts that Seagal often practised in his Hollywood action movies.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-05

[Get Real]

Yep, right! Next thing will be that they actually appoints a rich hotel and entertainment owner to run a country.

[smedly]

?

[Lupatria]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

special representative for Russian-U.S. humanitarian ties

Good choice to pick someone who is known for domestic violence.

[ChrisY1]

Now the ruskies really are taking the p!ss!

[spidermike007]

Quite amusing. Wonder what they think Seagal can do, to improve relations? This one is one of the most peculiar developments on the Russia - US front in a while. No doubt relations could use some improving. I suggest Russia stop meddling in elections for a starter. Next, Putin can take a break, when it comes to assassinating his opponents and critics, stifling the press, and stealing billions. Now that the tangerine tornado has thrown his own country under the bus, in his everlasting service to King Vlad, something needs to be done. Seagal? Strange idea.  

[ThaiFelix]

Americans are so brainwashed through their news, TV and movies, in regard to the good guy always wins, the military is "saving the world"and of course "in the name of God", that Putin picking a movie star as his ambassador is not really a bad move after all me thinks.

[AsiaHand]

9 hours ago, Get Real said:

Yep, right! Next thing will be that they actually appoints a rich hotel and entertainment owner to run a country.

The Russians seem to favor "Fake Fat boys".

[Media1]

A washed up has been. They don't get much movie airtime in Russia l suppose. Putin watches the 20 year old repeats

Edited August 5, 2018 by Media1

[KCPhuket]

Yeah another fat phony with black hair die instead of yellow. Actors and performers...a real circus with clowns. And...get this...REAL fake news. Sad.

[ChrisY1]

Love it!.....The ruskies certainly know how to take the p!ss!!

[NanLaew]

Seagal for POTUS... you know it makes sense.