Action-Movie Icon Considers Vladimir Putin a 'Brother' & 'One of the Great World Leaders' — and May Even Move to Russia Someday

Action movie star Steven Seagal noted in a Moscow Times interview that he's on board with Russia’s military action in Crimea, is pals with Vladimir Putin, and may even move to the former Soviet Union someday, according to The Raw Story.

Steven Seagal (Image source: KNXV-TV)

Seagal called Putin “one of the great world leaders," adding that he “would like to consider him as a brother," Atlantic magazine’s The Wire blog noted.

While Seagal isn't the box-office draw he used to be stateside, in Russia he's still a giant star. In addition Seagal has made friends with wealthy Russian oligarchs who've apparently nudged him to support Putin’s actions in Ukraine.

On the set of a movie he's filming in Romania, Seagal told Russian media that Putin’s “desire to protect the Russian-speaking people of Crimea, his assets, and the Russian Black Sea military base in Sevastopol…is very reasonable.”

Seagal also called present U.S. policy in the region “idiotic.”

Seems Putin and Seagal buddied up over the Russian leader's affection for martial arts, of which Seagal's expertise is widely known.

Image source: Getty Images via Newsbreaker

In addition, Seagal told the Times he will assist Putin in a Soviet-style initiative promoting physical fitness in the country called “Ready for Labor and Defense"; Seagal added that “sometime” he may apply for Russian citizenship.

Seagal seems to have been flying decidedly conservative colors of late, most recently noting that he's mulling a run for Arizona governor on the contention that America’s “biggest problem” is “open borders.”

“Joe Arpaio and I were talking about me running for governor of Arizona,” Seagal told KNXV-TV in Phoenix two months ago. “I would remotely consider it, but I would have a lot of other responsibilities that may be more important to address.”