Conor McGregor 's father has told Ukrainian president to keep his son's name out his "f*****g mouth" after he criticised the UFC star for being pictured with Vladimir Putin.
McGregor met with the controversial Russian President at the World Cup final in Moscow four years ago. The pair shook hands and posed for pictures as McGregor was warned by the President's security to take his arm off of his shoulder.
Putin has been at the centre of attention for several months as he ordered Russia to carry out a military assault in Ukraine after years of tension between the two countries. After their 2018 meeting, McGregor praised Putin's leadership qualities and said it was an "honour" to speak with him.
President Zelensky recently met with Irish politicians Sean O Fearghail and Mark Daly in Ukraine's capital. Whilst discussing several political issues, Mr Daly revealed that President Zelensky was critical of McGregor's meeting with Putin.
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“He felt he wasn’t being supportive of Ukraine,” Mr Daly told the Irish Independent. "This man is fighting a war but he knows what’s going on all around the world including in Ireland."
McGregor's father Tony has since reacted to the comments. Accompanied by a picture of Zelensky, Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and German President Angela Merkel, he wrote: "Zelensky, fight your war and keep my son's name out your f*****g mouth."
Zelensky met with Irish politicians as he pushes for the EU to accept Ukraine’s request to join the union. Zelensky also asked for Ireland to sign a scheme that would see European countries adopt a region of Ukraine to help rebuild the country.
“We will be asking our colleagues across Europe to support their application to join the European Union. When they are teaching leadership in universities for years to come, this will be the standard,” he added.
As the invasion still looms large, the Ukrainian President insists that Russia has not only "lost the battle" for the Eastern City of Kharkiv but also "its own future and any cultural ties to the free world".
McGregor met Putin just several months before his grudge fight with now-retired Russian UFC standout, Khabib Nurmagomedov. He used the meeting to taunt Nurmagomedov and question his rival's loyalty to Putin, after he said it "didn't matter" that the Irishman took a picture with the President.
Former two-weight champion McGregor is in the final stages of recovery after breaking his tibia last July. He will shortly undergo another CT scan and expects he should now be able to throw kicks with his healed leg.
