'I support my country': Alex Ovechkin defends appearance in pro-Vladimir Putin ad

On Thursday, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin spoke publicly for the first time since facing backlash for participating in a video advocating for Russian president Vladimir Putin's political party.

Ovechkin, who did not speak in the video but stands alongside prominent Russian politicians, defended his decision to reporters.

Capitals officials, however, said that Ovechkin did not tell the team of his plans to appear in the video prior to its release.

Here's what Ovechkin had to say, defending his decision to appear in the pro-Putin political video.

MORE: Why Alex Ovechkin received backlash for appearing in pro-Putin campaign ad

Ovechkin, a Moscow native, spoke with reporters on Thursday, making it clear he would not back down from his decision to appear in the pro-Putin video, standing alongside Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov with other Russian celebrities.

"They asked me to do this, and I said yes," Ovechkin said, per USA Today. "I'm Russian and I support my country."

Alex Ovechkin on appearing in the Putin commercial. pic.twitter.com/CwtdUsPfDU

The Capitals star also justified his decision by saying he plans to live with his family in Russia after he retires from hockey.

"I want the peace and love for everybody," Ovechkin said, per ESPN. "It doesn't matter who you are, American, Russian or Ukrainian. I hope everything's gonna be good and everything's gonna be done soon."

After briefly acknowledging the video, per Robert Klemko, Ovechkin asked reporters if they would stick to "hockey questions." However, after his press conference was over, Klemko spoke to Ovechkin further about the political video.

Ovechkin told Klemko that he shot the video around three weeks prior, did not tell the Capitals he was doing so, and was "surprised" at the backlash.

"It is nothing you can change right now. I'm Russian, I'm gonna live there when I'm done. My kids gonna be there. My family's gonna be there, you know, I support my country. That's it," he said, per Klemko. “I don't think it's a pro war. I think it's just support what's happening in Russia. I want the peace and love for everybody. It doesn't matter who you are, American, Russian, or Ukrainian. Like, I have lots of friends who are Ukrainians, and I hope everything's gonna be good, and everything's gonna be done soon.”

Ovechkin also told Klemko that he is not "in politics" and can't "say who's right and who's wrong.”

"Everybody have their own opinion, right? I'm not a politician, I'm an athlete, and, how I said, I'm gonna live there when I'm done playing. I support my country. Like, I'm Russian," Ovechkin told Klemko.

According to Klemko, after the reporter asked Ovechkin if he would support Russia "if they're responsible for a genocide," he first asked for the term genocide to be translated, said, "I hope it's not gonna, it's not gonna be like that," then walked away.

Afterward, Klemko also reported that Capitals general manager Chris Patrick confirmed Ovechkin did not tell the team of his plans to appear in the video.

“We would have worked to avoid the situation very hard,” Patrick said, per Klemko. “And I doubt we'd be standing where we're standing right now if he had run it by us.”

According to USA Today, Patrick also said, "It's a difficult situation and I understand why people are upset," and left it at that, adding: "That's probably the most I should say about it as a general manager of a hockey team and not someone not well-versed in geopolitical issues."