Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko accuses Rogan of ‘repeating Russian propaganda’ | US News

Podcaster Joe Rogan “repeats Russian propaganda” about the war in Ukraine, accused former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko in comments on social media, adding that Rogan should invite him on his podcast to discuss the topic “like free men to discuss.

“I’m listening to your latest podcast,” said Klitschko, whose brother Vitali Klitschko was also a world boxing champion and is now mayor of Kyiv.

“I am sending you this video to let you know that I disagree. You’re talking about sending these American weapons to Ukraine, which you think will lead to World War III. So let me tell you that you are repeating Russian propaganda.”

In Rogan’s three-hour interview with Donald Trump – widely seen as influential in the recent US election, as well as Kamala Harris’ decision not to follow suit – the then-Republican candidate claimed he would quickly end the war in Ukraine. Rogan gave Trump his endorsement. Trump has long been accused of pandering to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Friday, Rogan – whose podcast is among the most popular in the world and currently sits at number three on the latest Apple Podcasts charts – criticized Joe Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukraine to attack Russian soil with US-supplied missiles, which was widely criticized is seen as an attempt to help Kiev strengthen its negotiating position ahead of Trump-imposed peace talks.

“How are you allowed to do that when you’re on the path,” Rogan asked Biden, who will leave office on January 20th. “For example, people don’t want you to be there anymore. Maybe that would be a good thing that we would like to spare a dying former president from. The whole thing is crazy.”

Rogan said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “100% wrong,” but noted of the Ukrainian president: “(Volodymyr) Zelensky says Putin is afraid. Fuck you, man. You damn people are about to start World War III.”

He added: “The whole thing is a proxy war… it’s fucking crazy.”

Putin has long claimed that US aid to Ukraine is part of a proxy war aimed at weakening Russia.

“Putin’s Russia is in trouble, that’s why they want to scare you and people like you,” Klitschko said in his message to Rogan. “His war was supposed to last three days. Thanks to the heroism and sacrifice of us Ukrainians, it took three years. So they’re using the only weapon Putin really wants to use: propaganda, and that weapon is really weakening our democracies.

“Putin’s Russia wants to quietly destroy Ukraine. They want America to stay calm. Not great, but quiet. A great America is not an America that abandons countries that defend freedom with their lives.

“In short, you see, I have some disagreements. If you invite me on your podcast, we could discuss it like free men.”

Klitschko, 48, won Olympic gold in 1996 before winning multiple world boxing titles between 2000 and 2015. Rogan is a former mixed martial arts commentator and often discusses professional fights with his guests.