President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the words of russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs head Serhiy Lavrov who said that "the most ardent anti-Semites are usually Jews".
"The 68th day of our strong defense is coming to an end. The 68th day of the self-destruction of Russia. Self-destruction in every sense of the word. If this country once had what is called a reputation, now Russia does things daily that simply preclude any adequacy," – Zelenskyy said in his evening video address on 2 May.
President recalled Lavrov's words about Hitler allegedly having Jewish blood".
"How could this be said on the eve of the anniversary of the victory over Nazism? These words mean that Russia's top diplomat is blaming the Jewish people for Nazi crimes. No words," – Zelenskyy said.
"Of course, there is a big scandal in Israel today as regards these words. However, no one hears objections or excuses from Moscow. There is silence. Hence, they agree with what their foreign minister said. After the Russian missile attack at Babyn Yar in Kyiv, after damaging the Menorah by shelling at the site of the mass executions in Drobytsky Yar near Kharkiv, after the deaths of ordinary people who survived the Nazi occupation and Nazi concentration camps from Russian shelling, such an anti-Semitic thrust by their minister means Russia has forgotten all the lessons of World War II," – President added.
He voiced a question: what the reaction to such statements of the russian MFA should be?
"So the question is – will the Israeli ambassador stay in Moscow knowing their new position? Will relations with Russia remain as usual? Because it's not accidental. The words of the Russian foreign minister - a "great connoisseur of Hitlerism" - are not accidental. It is no coincidence that the Russian occupiers are creating so-called "filtration camps" on Ukrainian land through which thousands of our Ukrainian citizens are passing. Where our people are killed, tortured, and raped. It is no coincidence that the occupiers capture civilians and take them hostage or deport them as free labor. It is no coincidence that the occupiers capture civilians and take them hostage or deport them as free labor. It is no coincidence that they are waging a so-called total war to destroy everything alive, after which only the burned ruins of entire cities and villages remain. To do this, one must completely reject the morals and achievements of the victors of Nazism. But if there are such people in the Russian leadership, it does not mean they can judge others in Europe or in the world according to themselves," – Zelenskyy emphasized.
Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has also reacted to Lavrov's words.
He posted on Twitter that "the rf's foreign minister's remarks are both an outrageous and unforgivable statement as well as a terrible historical error. Jews did not murder themselves in the Holocaust. It's the lowest level of racism against Jews is to accuse Jews themselves of antisemitism".