Ukraine conflict: Robert De Niro speaks out at Cambridge University

Crowds thronged to catch a glimpse of American actor Robert De Niro in Cambridge

Getty Images Robert De Niro — Crowds thronged to catch a glimpse of American actor Robert De Niro in Cambridge

Actor Robert De Niro has spoken out about the Russian invasion of Ukraine when he appeared in front of students at Cambridge University.

He flew over to the UK from New York on Saturday having agreed to speak at the Cambridge Union on Sunday.

He spoke about his acting career, but when asked his views on Ukraine, he said: "You have to stand up and say 'you can't do that, it's wrong'.

"We have to do something... to stop this kind of aggression."

The Oscar-winning actor's visit to Cambridge saw queues of people flocking to the city centre hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

De Niro addressed the Cambridge Union at the weekend

Chris Mann/BBC Robert De Niro speaking to an audience at the Cambridge Union on Sunday — De Niro addressed the Cambridge Union at the weekend

The actor addressed a packed audience at the union, a university debating society founded more than 200 years ago.

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"There are things that are going on in the world, that if you have a voice and you see what's happening, you have the right to say something about it. You must. You have to," De Niro said, after he was asked about the Russian invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

"You see what's happening in Ukraine now, you have to stand up and say 'you can't do that, it's wrong'.

"It's that simple. It's not even about democracy, it's about right and wrong - the truth."

The actor spoke about his career, but also about Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The actor questioned whether sanctions imposed on Russia would work.

"The sanctions - I don't know how that really works, well I sort of do, but I don't know how much of a bite they have, what teeth they have - that's really my question," he said.

"My fear is that this thing will go on and on, and people will get bored, watching it, even - and all of a sudden you've got a country like Ukraine that has been overtaken, and you know it shouldn't be.

"There might have to be a stronger position taken by people.

"And also, this is a terrible thing to be aware of, that we have nuclear weapons that people threaten with... if you use those, nobody's going to be around.

"I can't imagine this world being in that state," he said.

"But we have to do something... to stop this kind of aggression.

"A democracy is the way we must go in order to keep this world sane and level-headed."