Zelensky’s Judaism ‘irrelevant’ because Nazis control Ukraine — Russian envoy

A Russian envoy has declared the Ukrainian president’s Jewish heritage irrelevant on the basis that his government is under the control of “radicals and neo-Nazis” who defy him.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, made the remark when asked how Ukraine could be controlled by Nazis when Volodymyr Zelensky is a Jew.

Russia has repeatedly argued, without presenting evidence, that its invasion was necessary in order to “denazify” Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters on Monday night, Nebenzya said: “On the fact that Volodymyr Zelensky has Jewish heritage, it doesn’t matter because real power in Ukraine, real political weight belongs to the radicals and Neo-Nazis who defy the President, who have their own agenda, who rule the ball in Ukraine in fact.

“And President Volodymyr Zelensky who came with a landslide victory of 74 percent of the population, promising to end the war – first thing on the list of his priorities, but then he was slowly backing off this, and he finished practically playing into the hands of those radical and neo-Nazi organisations.”

Zelensky, who was born to Jewish parents, is a former actor and comedian who was unexpectedly catapulted to the presidency in 2018.

He has spoken little on the details of his Jewish upbringing, or his religiosity, but he often expressed messages of Jewish pride and a strong sense of solidarity with Israel.

That Jewish identity has been repeatedly seized on by enemies and rivals, and celebrated by Jewish supporters around the world.