Putin, who called Vladimir Zelensky a “shame on the Jewish people” the day before, was answered by the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Azman, as well as the former Deputy Prime Minister of the four governments of Israel, the head of the Supervisory Board of the Babi Yar Holocaust Memorial Center Natan Sharansky.
“I am proud of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who did not leave his people at the beginning of the war, although it was dangerous for his life, showed extraordinary courage and continues to defend the Ukrainian people. I and the entire Jewish society of Ukraine, like the entire free world, support President Zelensky,” said Moshe Reuven Azman.
Sharansky said at the same time that the President of Ukraine plays a unique historical role in protecting the free world.
“Ukrainians can be proud of their choice of a Jewish president, who unites and unites the Ukrainian people in a difficult struggle against barbaric aggression. And we Jews can be proud that a representative of our people plays such a unique historical role in mobilizing not only the Ukrainian people, but the entire free world in defense of our future,” Sharansky said.
At the same time, Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk called on the Israeli authorities to condemn Putin's words – the latter also hinted in his speech that Ukraine does not recognize the Holocaust.
“We expect the Israeli government to strongly condemn the words of President Putin, otherwise it may lead to the postponement or cancellation of Zelenskaya’s visit,” says Korniychuk. — Putin's comments are anti-Semitic and directed against the Jewish people. I think the Israeli people should be proud of the Ukrainian president, who is Jewish and bravely defends his country. When Putin attacks Zelensky, he attacks the Jewish people. We are on the same side of the barricades."
Recall that on June 16, Vladimir Putin, speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, said that he had "many Jewish friends," and these friends allegedly called Zelensky "not a Jew, but a disgrace to the Jewish people." Putin also said that 1.5 million Jews were killed on the territory of Ukraine during the Holocaust. "How can this be denied?" – said the President of the Russian Federation. In fact, Kyiv has never denied the Holocaust, as well as the murder of Jews directly on the territory of Ukraine. This is evidenced by the very existence of the Babi Yar complex.