Alex Ovechkin said he is "for peace and love."

This came after the Russian hockey star appeared in an ad for a party aligned with Vladimir Putin.

The video for the United Russia party came to light this week.

It appeared days before Ovechkin's Washington Capitals held their annual media day on Thursday.

In the commercial, Ovechkin stands behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Longtime Soviet hockey star Viacheslav Fetisov also took part.

Ovechkin said he is Russian and supports his country.

He said he hopes everyone understands that everybody wants peace.

He said he did not hesitate to take part in the ad.

He explained that they asked him and he said yes.

Ovechkin previously voiced support for Putin in 2017.

That year, he started a social movement called the "Putin Team."

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he said, "Please, no more war."

Asked then about his relationship with Putin, he said Putin was his president.

But he said he was not in politics and was an athlete.

Russia's parliamentary election this week features United Russia and nine other parties.

All of them support Putin's policies.

The only party that opposed the war in Ukraine has been barred from the ballot.

Ovechkin turned 41 on Thursday.

He confirmed he plans to live in Russia when he retires from the NHL.

He called Russia his home and Washington, D.C., his second home.

He remains noncommittal about his future after the 2026-27 season.

He said he is focusing on training camp and that he has to make the team.