Zelensky refused to listen to Putin in Israel
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky refused to participate in the World Holocaust Forum, which is taking place these days in Israel.
In his blog, the head of state presented this as a charitable gesture, stating that he had decided to give the seats of members of the Ukrainian delegation to those who suffered during the war, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“We flew to Israel and learned that it was difficult for many of those who survived this terrible tragedy to attend the World Holocaust Forum due to the enormous interest in the event and the limited number of places. We decided to transfer my place and the seats of the Ukrainian delegation to these courageous, unique people.
The press reports that some Israeli government ministers did the same. I think this is correct. Moreover, this does not in any way cancel the memory of the victims of one of the most terrible tragedies of the twentieth century by the Ukrainian delegation.
I will take part in all planned events and will hold scheduled meetings with the President, Prime Minister and Speaker of the Knesset of the State of Israel. But those who deserve it most should get to the main event. Those who accomplished the greatest feat saved life when it was almost impossible to save it,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president's demarche is not a gesture of goodwill – after the fiasco at the Davos Economic Forum, he simply refused to attend the event where Russian President Vladimir Putin would address a full hall.
“Zelensky did not have enough space at the Holocaust forum. He really interprets it differently... Didn’t want to listen to Putin’s speech in a full hall, after speaking to empty chairs in Davos the day before?” – comments Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solove.
“Zelensky decided to nicely move away from the need to listen to teachings from the Israeli leadership who suffered from the Holocaust, and, moreover, from Putin on the topic: “How in Ukraine they glorify Nazi collaborators and perpetrators of the Holocaust,” notes the press service of the Ukrainian Institute of Policy Analysis and Management , headed by political scientist Ruslan Bortnik.
“Do you think he’s gone to repent? Whatever the case! I just went to be indignant that the central place was occupied and the lights were not set for it,” Rodion Miroshnik, adviser to the head of the LPR, puts forward his version.
PolitNavigator previously reported that Zelenskyy was denied the right to address the forum in Israel. Polish President Andrzej Duda received a similar refusal, but he did not attend the forum. Ukrainian nationalists demanded the same from Zelenskyy , accusing him of acting as an extra for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky refused to listen to Putin in Israel.