On Wednesday, US National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby condemned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for comparing the US-led Western coalition’s Russian policy to German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s attempt to eliminate Jews, also known as the ‘Final Solution.’
“Our first reaction is how dare he compare anything to the Holocaust, anything. Let alone a war that they started,” he asserted, adding, “It’s almost so absurd that it’s not worth responding to, other than the truly offensive manner in which he tried to cast us in terms of Hitler and the Holocaust.”
I don’t agree on many things w/ @WhiteHouse #NSC’s John Kirby but he’s 💯% correct to say it’s “truly offensive” for Russia’s FM Sergei Lavrov to compare 🇺🇸 coalition assembly to Hitler's actions to annihilate Jews. Thank you John. @NSC_Spox@MFA_Russiahttps://t.co/cGApgOCzkh
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@GreenblattJD) January 19, 2023
Lavrov Accuses West of Solving the ‘Russian Question’
During his annual press conference on Wednesday, Lavrov accused the US of organising a “coalition” against Russia, just like Hitler and French leader Napoleon Bonaparte had done in the past, claiming that the West was “by proxy through Ukraine waging war against [Russia].”
“The task is the same: the final solution of the ‘Russian question.’ Just as Hitler wanted to finally solve the Jewish question,” he opined.
Just when you think the loathsome delusions of the Russian slaughterers of Ukrainian civilians couldnt get more abhorrent and ludicrous Lavrov manages to say - right before Holocaust Day - that Russia is in the position of millions of murdered Jews. Is he insane or evil or both? https://t.co/FlNeTBp8Vc
— Simon Schama (@simon_schama) January 18, 2023
This is not the first time that Lavrov has made anti-Semitic remarks. In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised to Israeli PM Naftali Bennett for Lavrov’s incendiary comments on the Italian channel Rete 4, wherein he claimed that Hitler, who murdered over six million Jews during World War II, had Jewish heritage.
Deciding on Behalf of Ukraine
Lavrov went on to allege that the West continues to make decisions for Ukraine despite saying that “not a word can be said about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
“They have already prohibited Zelensky from coming to an agreement with Russia in late March. The West decided for Ukraine and made it on behalf of Ukraine without Ukraine,” he underscored.
We are shocked and appalled by the shameful comparison drawn by Russian FM Lavrov between the support of the West for Ukraine and Hitler’s persecution and murder of six million Jews in the Shoah.
— European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) January 18, 2023
This is Holocaust distortion at its most basic level.https://t.co/V0ld4NArOY
He also revealed that Russia would “seriously consider” any concrete proposal to end the conflict, further claiming that it “makes no sense” to have any talks with the Western countries on only Ukraine.
Additionally, Lavrov pointed out that the ties between Russia and the West “will never be the same again.” “Never again there will be a situation when you lie, sign documents and then refuse to fulfill them,” he asserted, referring to the Western powers.
Russia’s War Goals Will be Fulfilled
Lavrov highlighted that Russia’s goals related to the “special military operation” in Ukraine, “determined by Russia’s core legitimate interests,” will be fulfilled.
Lavrov offers latest iteration of Russ war aims: “There should not be any military infrastructure on Ukr territory that can threaten Russia.” Since Ukraine is not going to demilitarise in the face of a real — not imagined — threat from Russia, this presumes state of extended war
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) January 18, 2023
“There must be no military infrastructure in Ukraine that poses a direct threat to our country,” he declared, further stating that Russia would ensure that the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine were protected.
US Pushing Ukraine to Commit Terrorism
Russian Ambassador to US Anatoly Antonov stated that the US State Department is “pushing the Kyiv regime to carry out terrorist attacks in Russia,” referring to spokesperson Ned Price’s comments that Crimea belongs to Ukraine.
“Hearing such remarks from Washington, the criminals in Kyiv will once again feel complete permissiveness. The risks of conflict escalation will only increase,” Antonov asserted.