Volodymyr Zelensky still leads a country in chaos. Although the Russian invasion has been slow at times, the European nation’s resistance has proven to be a strength that may have been underestimated. There’s no doubt Vladimir Putin’s forces have suffered embarrassment at times, and are not nearly as capable as the propaganda suggested, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be victorious in the end.
Naturally, that has left Zelensky in the position of rallying support in any way he can, and under the circumstances, it’s tough to fault him for some of the things he’s said. An interesting comment on the Holocaust that Zelensky made recently struck a nerve with even the most staunch international supporters.
More Ukrainians collaborated than helped Jews save the Nazis. That shouldn’t be relevant today, but Ukrainian leaders need to stop distorting the facts of the Holocaust. https://t.co/eIcZzeiIKy
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 20, 2022
It is clear that Israeli politicians have been making statements regarding the Holocaust role of Ukrainians after Zelensky spoke to the Knesset. This is not the case. https://t.co/E2yFAVhATy
— Judah Ari Gross (@JudahAriGross) March 20, 2022
It’s one thing to seek help from other nations, even in strong terms. It’s another to distort history in such a wildly offensive way in that pursuit. That’s what Zelensky did here, purposefully or not, and I think that’s why some of those who have long spoken warmly of him are now saying this was a step too far.
Yes, Zelensky himself is Jewish, and that makes Russian claims that he’s a secret nazi fairly ridiculous. Yet, Ukraine’s history is not up for debate. Not only was there a lot of collaboration with Nazi Germany among those in power at that time but it also spread to the rest of the population. Today, Nazi elements are far more prevalent in Ukraine than most people should accept. As I’ve written previously, that’s a secondary concern to Russia’s invasion and not at all a justification for it, but it’s also not something that can be wished away.
Zelensky’s framing of Israel is also unfair in that it ignores the realities on the ground. Russia has a proxy control over Syria. Important military agreements have been reached between Russia and Israel that permit the Russians to eliminate terrorist threats from Syria. This isn’t a rhetorical matter, it’s a matter putting Israelis at risk if the agreements are broken. That is why Israel has been very careful about how they’ve approached Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Yes, countries should step up to help Ukraine if they can, but there shouldn’t be an expectation for a nation to put its own residents in danger to do so.
Zelensky may be desperate, which I can understand. That’s an understandable thing, given the situation he is in. He must be thoughtful in how he approaches this situation. Ukraine’s history of nazism is a very real thing. His use of the Holocaust to wedge Israel against Israelis is a huge strategic mistake.
Zelensky must now know that no other nation is coming to Zelensky’s aid in terms of physical support. There are too many risks associated with a world-wide war. A nation such as Israel imposing sanctions on Russia and harming its self-defense will not deter Russia. It is crucial for Zelensky that he evaluates his options in light of this reality. It is up to Ukraine to decide whether they will continue to fight. However, trying to make other nations go to war with Russia is not an option. That needs to be accepted — and all other decisions should be with that in mind.
About Post Author
