Trudeau's Stunning Apology: Unveiling the Controversial Ukrainian Veteran's WW2 Past
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau apologizes for the recent controversial incident where the parliament applauded a Ukrainian veteran who had previously served in a Nazi unit during WWII, acknowledging the embarrassment caused
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a formal apology on behalf of the Canadian parliament for an incident that occurred last week. He described the incident as "deeply embarrassing" and involved the applause given to a Ukrainian veteran who had served in a Nazi military unit during World War II. Trudeau acknowledged the mistake made by parliament and expressed regret for their unknowing participation in the applause during a media briefing in Ottawa on Wednesday.
Trudeau also acknowledged the adverse diplomatic impact on the Ukrainian delegation present that day, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"I want to emphasize Canada's sincere apology for the predicament this has put President Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation in. It is highly distressing to consider that Russia and its allies are exploiting this grave mistake to spread misleading propaganda about Ukraine's objectives in their struggle," he stated.
After Zelensky's speech on Friday, Anthony Rota, the speaker of the House of Commons, commended Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian-Canadian war hero, for his brave fight for Ukrainian independence against the aggressors from Russia in the past, and his continuous support for the troops to this day. The 98-year-old Hunka was acknowledged with a prolonged standing ovation.
However, human rights and Jewish organizations have recently revealed that Hunka was associated with the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division, a military unit within the Nazi SS that was condemned as a criminal organization by the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg in 1946. This tribunal concluded that the Nazi group was responsible for committing heinous war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Ukrainian volunteers who served in the unit were condemned by the Jewish human rights organization Bnai Brith Canada. They were referred to as "ultra-nationalist ideologues" with a goal of establishing an ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian state and supporting ethnic cleansing.
In light of the controversy, Rota has resigned from his position, and the Minister of Education of Poland has written a letter stating his intention to begin extradition proceedings against Hunkas.
