Moscow furious after Ukraine leader points out Soviet collusion with Nazis

Times of Israel ^ | Jan 2020 | AFP

[CondoleezzaProtege]

The Kremlin reacted with fury on Tuesday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Soviet collusion with Nazi Germany led to the outbreak of World War II.

While visiting Poland on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz death camp, Zelensky said the Poles “were the first to feel the consequences of the criminal collusion of the totalitarian regimes.”

Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded and carved up Poland in September 1939 under a secret clause of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The Nazi invasion prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

“We categorically disagree with this statement,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, accusing Zelensky of backing the “highly erroneous” position of Poland on the historical events. The Soviet collaboration with the Nazis remains highly sensitive in the ex-Soviet bloc and frequently crops up in political rhetoric.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian parliament’s upper house, accused Zelensky of betraying the Ukrainians who helped liberate Europe and delivering a blow to Russian-Ukrainian ties.

Last month, Putin accused Poland of colluding with Hitler and contributing to the outbreak of World War II, sparking new tensions between Moscow and Warsaw.

[jmacusa]

No. I’m not. Not at all. The myth that Soviet participation was a significant factor has been a just that for over 70 years. Pushed by the Russians to cover their involvement as an initial ally of Hitler and academia by Marxist universities here and abroad.

[NorseViking]

Okay. You might know something others don’t know.

[jmacusa]

Sarcasm isn't a good always a good arguing point. Not here. Just look at the history. Did Russia's contribution help? Yes. To a degree but not on the scale you and other insist.