In A Rare Gesture, Putin Apologizes For Hitler Remarks; Cites Him To Rally Support For Victory In Ukraine

By
Ashish Dangwal
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On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled Soviet valor in World War II to encourage his troops fighting in Ukraine. However, he also admitted the cost to Russian lives while promising to assist the families of fallen servicemen. 

Putin also stated that Russian forces in Ukraine were protecting the Motherland against an “absolutely unacceptable threat.” The yearly parade commemorating Russia’s triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II in 1945 was inaugurated by the Russian President.

Putin went on to say that it was critical to do all possible to avoid the “horror of a global war” occurring again. He echoed these sentiments to the thousands of Russian servicemen gathered in Moscow’s Red Square. 

Putin also declared that Russian troops were still fighting Nazism in Ukraine. Despite concerns in the West that Putin would use the anniversary to declare an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine or a widespread mobilization in Russia, the president made no major statements during his speech. 

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Russian Troops During parade – Twitter

This comes just days after President Punit apologized, a rare concession from the Kremlin leader,  to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett over his foreign minister’s remarks that Adolf Hitler had Jewish blood. 

An Israeli account of the call said that the two “discussed Russian foreign minister Lavrov’s remarks. The prime minister accepted President Putin’s apology for Lavrov’s remarks and thanked him for clarifying his attitude towards the Jewish people and the memory of the Holocaust.”

Meanwhile, Putin promised on Sunday that “as in 1945, victory will be ours,” as he congratulated former Soviet nations on the 77th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. He sought to galvanize popular support for the campaign by equating the current battle to the Great Patriotic War, as it is known in Russia.

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File Image: Vladimir Putin and
Sergey Shoigu

Addressing Russian forces in Ukraine, he said: “You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of the Second World War.”

Putin blamed the war on Ukraine and the West, saying Kyiv and its allies were planning an “invasion of our historical lands,” including the Russian-speaking Donbas area and Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. 

“An unacceptable threat to us was being created, directly on our borders,” Putin said, pointing to NATO weapons deliveries to Ukraine and the deployment of foreign advisors. Putin asserted that Russia has no choice but to respond to aggression in advance, calling it “the only right decision” for a “sovereign, strong, and independent country.”

Zelenskyy Accuses Putin Of ‘Copying’ Hitler

“Only a madman can wish to repeat the 2194 days of the war,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing Putin of replicating World War II crimes. He said Putin was recreating the heinous crimes Nazi leader Adolf Hitler committed in his Victory Day address. 

“(Putin is) following Nazi philosophy, copying everything they did,” the embattled leader said as he walked through Kyiv’s deserted streets. Several invaders attempted to take the land throughout Ukraine’s history, but none succeeded, Zelenskyy said.

“We have been through different wars. But they all had the same final. There are no shackles that can bind our free spirit. There are no invaders who can rule over our free people. Sooner or later, we will win,” he said, since they are ‘fighting for their homeland.’ 

“Very soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine and someone will not have any,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy added. Marching down Khreschatyk Street in Kyiv, he spoke of two victory days, referring to the country’s success in WWII as well as Ukraine’s victory in the ongoing battle. The Ukrainian leader stated that his people would win the war because they are battling for their children. 

Similarly, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship is “mirroring” Nazi acts and must face the same destiny. The minister predicted that Putin and his associates will suffer the same fate as Hitler and the Nazis in the aftermath of World War II.

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File Image: Naftali_Bennett and Vladimir Putin

While Adolf Hitler committed suicide, his remaining associates were captured and faced the historic Nuremberg trials. 

He also chastised Russian military leaders for war crimes committed across Ukrainian territory, particularly in Bucha, Irpin, and other places. He also highlighted Russia’s army’s inability to gain military gains.

More than 70 days have passed since Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a “special military operation to denazify” Ukraine. The ensuing battle has killed thousands, razed cities, and turned the ex-soviet state into a macabre trap. 

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