Editing Roger Waters (section)

===Russian invasion of Ukraine===
A week before the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in February 2022, Waters told an [[RT (TV network)|RT]] interviewer that rumours of Russia launching an invasion were "bullshit" and [[Anti-Russian sentiment|Russophobic]] propaganda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/07/pink-floyd-reform-to-support-ukraine|title='This is a crazy, unjust attack': Pink Floyd re-form to support Ukraine|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=4 April 2022|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809192321/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/07/pink-floyd-reform-to-support-ukraine|archive-date=9 August 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> After the invasion, Waters said that US President [[Joe Biden]] was "fuelling the fire in the Ukraine... that is a huge crime", and questioned why the United States was not encouraging Ukraine "to negotiate, obviating the need for this horrific, horrendous war". Responding to accusations that he was placing the responsibility to negotiate on the country that was invaded, Waters said that Russia was [[Russian allegations of NATO aggression in Ukraine|responding to provocations from NATO]]: "This war is basically about the action and reaction of [[NATO]] pushing right up to the Russian border – which they promised they wouldn't do."<ref name="nme1">{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Ellie |date=7 August 2022 |title=Roger Waters defends branding Joe Biden as a war criminal: 'He's fuelling the fire in the Ukraine' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-defends-branding-joe-biden-as-a-war-criminal-hes-fuelling-the-fire-in-the-ukraine-3284791 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810230610/https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-defends-branding-joe-biden-as-a-war-criminal-hes-fuelling-the-fire-in-the-ukraine-3284791 |archive-date=10 August 2022 |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/roger-waters-joe-biden-war-criminal/|title=Why Rogers Waters Calls Joe Biden 'A War Criminal'|last=Rapp|first=Allison|date=8 August 2022|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=10 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201200/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/roger-waters-joe-biden-war-criminal/|archive-date=10 August 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In another interview, Waters said the attack on Ukraine was "probably the most provoked invasion ever" and he refused to "see Russia from the current Russo-phobic perspective".<ref name="Willman-2023-2">{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=8 February 2023 |title=Roger Waters Addresses U.N. Security Council, at Russia's Behest, Urging Peace but Repeating Charge That Ukraine Invasion Was 'Provoked' |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/roger-waters-addresses-united-nations-security-council-russia-ukraine-pink-floyd-1235517133/ |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208203339/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/roger-waters-addresses-united-nations-security-council-russia-ukraine-pink-floyd-1235517133/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 5 September 2022, Waters published an open letter to [[Olena Zelenska]], the [[First Lady of Ukraine]]. He accused Ukrainian "extreme nationalists" of starting the war and made no mention of Russia's responsibility for the invasion.<ref name="Poland cancelled">{{Cite news |last=Easton |first=Adam |date=25 September 2022 |title=Roger Waters gigs in Poland cancelled amid Ukraine backlash |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63026101 |access-date=25 September 2022 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925153920/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63026101 |url-status=live }}</ref> He argued that the West should not provide Ukraine with weapons, and that Western governments were prolonging the war with their support. Waters urged [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy|her husband]] to end the war based on the [[Minsk agreements]].<ref>[https://www.pressenza.com/2022/09/an-open-letter-to-mrs-olena-zelenska-from-roger-waters/ An Open letter to Mrs Olena Zelenska from Roger Waters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907195930/https://www.pressenza.com/2022/09/an-open-letter-to-mrs-olena-zelenska-from-roger-waters/ |date=7 September 2022 }}, pressenza.com,  05.09.22, Independent Media Institute</ref> Waters's concerts in Poland were cancelled following local outrage over his comments.<ref name="Poland cancelled"/> 

In February 2023, Waters echoed Russian propaganda, saying that "the Ukraine" is "[[Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine#Denying Ukrainian nationhood and statehood|not really a country]]" but a "vague experiment", and suggesting that [[Vladimir Putin]] was "leading his country to the benefit of all of the people of Russia".<ref name="Telegraph 8 Feb 23">{{cite news |title=Roger Waters: 'I called Putin a gangster – that may have been unfair' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/roger-waters-pink-floyd-dark-side-moon-gilmour-putin-ukraine/ |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=8 February 2023}}</ref> [[Polly Samson]] and former bandmate David Gilmour responded by calling Waters a "Putin apologist".<ref name="Telegraph 8 Feb 23"/> On 8 February, Waters gave a speech to the [[United Nations Security Council]] at the Russian government's behest. He condemned the invasion of Ukraine as illegal, but said it was "not unprovoked" and also "condemned the provocateurs" and called for a ceasefire.<ref name="Willman-2023-2" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Michelle |date=8 February 2023 |title=Invited by Russia, Roger Waters tells UN: Ukraine invasion illegal |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/invited-by-russia-roger-waters-tells-un-ukraine-invasion-illegal-2023-02-08/ |access-date=9 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208211227/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/invited-by-russia-roger-waters-tells-un-ukraine-invasion-illegal-2023-02-08/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Waters was praised by Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy.<ref name="Willman-2023-2" /> Ukraine's UN ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, denounced Waters as "[[Another Brick in the Wall|another brick in the wall]]" of Russian "[[Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine#Russian themes|disinformation]] and propaganda".<ref name="Willman-2023-2"/>

In February 2025, Waters made another speech to the United Nations Security Council, which was requested by Russia for the tenth anniversary of the signing of the [[Minsk II agreement]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ukraine: Briefing under the "Threats to International Peace and Security" Agenda Item |url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2025/02/ukraine-briefing-under-the-threats-to-international-peace-and-security-agenda-item-4.php |website=[[Security Council Report]] |date=14 February 2025}}</ref> Waters accused the Ukrainian president, [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]], of abandoning the Minsk agreements, in breach of his election promise, and accused the former UK prime minister [[Boris Johnson]] of acting for the US to stop peace talks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Use Upcoming Tenth Anniversary of Minsk Accord's Signing to Renew Diplomatic Efforts towards De-escalation in Ukraine, Assistant Secretary-General Urges Security Council |url=https://press.un.org/en/2025/sc15996.doc.htm |publisher=[[United Nations]] |date=17 February 2025}}</ref>