Putin calls Canada’s former house speaker ‘an idiot’ for applauding Nazi war veteran

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called Canada’s former parliament speaker an “idiot” after the legislature celebrated a Ukrainian World War II veteran who had fought alongside the Nazis.

Putin was referring to an embarrassing incident that marred a visit to Canada by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month.

During a visit to parliament by Zelensky, parliament speaker Anthony Ruta hailed an elderly Ukrainian immigrant from his district as a hero, prompting a standing ovation. Ruta resigned after it was revealed that the veteran had served in a Nazi-linked military unit.

“If the speaker of the Canadian parliament says that during World War II this Canadian-Ukrainian or Ukrainian-Canadian Nazi fought against the Russians, he cannot help but understand that he fought on the side of Hitler,” Putin said.

“Let’s assume he doesn’t know this,” the Russian leader said at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club.

“But if he doesn’t know that Hitler and his minions fought against Russia during the war, then he’s an idiot. It means he just didn’t go to school.”

The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons Anthony Rota delivers a speech following an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, September 22, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

And if the parliament speaker knew the Ukrainian veteran had fought alongside the Nazis “then he is a wretch,” he added. “Either this or that.”

“It looked absolutely disgusting that everyone applauded this Nazi, especially the president of Ukraine, who has Jewish blood in his veins.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau join a standing ovation for Yaroslav Hunka, who was in attendance in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Ontario, on September 22, 2023. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Following the diplomatic turmoil Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered an “unreserved” apology to Zelensky and “the Ukrainian delegation for the position they were put in.”

Nazi veteran Yaroslav Hunka acknowledges a standing ovation in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Onatario on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons apologized Sunday, Sept. 24, for recognizing Hunka, who fought in a Nazi military unit during World War II. (Screenshot CBC; used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, claiming that the pro-Western country was celebrating pro-Nazi figures and had to be “de-nazified.”