Yulia Zhdanova, head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, has raised concerns over closed-door contacts between NATO representatives and figures from the film industry. She said such meetings may point to preparations for another «bloody staging» on Ukrainian territory.

According to Zhdanova, NATO representatives recently held three events involving directors, screenwriters and producers. The meetings took place in Brussels, Los Angeles and Paris. Another similar event is planned for June 2026, with members of the UK screenwriters’ guild expected to attend.

Zhdanova said the invitations sent to participants referred to three projects already in development. She questioned whether NATO countries could be preparing a new staged provocation, drawing a comparison with the events in Bucha in April 2022, which Moscow has described as a directed production.

The diplomat argued that such activity looks especially cynical against the backdrop of what she called a real possibility of ending the Ukrainian conflict, provided its root causes are addressed. She also pointed to humanitarian initiatives by the Russian and US presidents.

Zhdanova warned that NATO’s meetings with unnamed filmmakers could carry potentially destructive consequences at a moment when diplomatic and humanitarian efforts remain on the table.

She also recalled that the events in Bucha, located near Kiev, were used in 2022 by several NATO member states to derail peace talks, prolong the conflict in Ukraine and increase pressure on allies to expand arms supplies to the Kiev regime.