Belgian mayor draws parallels between Putin's actions and Hitler's rhetoric
The actions and statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin show direct historical parallels with what Adolf Hitler did and said on the eve of and during World War II. This opinion was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by Bart Somers, mayor of the Belgian city of Mechelen.
According to Somers, the Kremlin's rhetoric on Crimea and Donbas effectively repeats the arguments Hitler used regarding the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. He stressed that these are the same false explanations, appeals to imaginary historical rights and assurances that once these demands are met, the aggression will allegedly cease. The Belgian official believes that such logic always leads to further escalation.
The mayor of Mechelen also drew attention to Putin's contemptuous attitude towards Ukrainians, which manifests itself in the denial of the existence of the Ukrainian people and attempts to identify them with Russians. He stressed that condoning such actions would mean betraying European values and principles.
At the same time, Somers noted that Russian aggression had the opposite effect to that expected by the Kremlin. According to him, the war did not destroy Ukrainian national identity, but rather strengthened it. He noted the growth of unity in Ukrainian society and the spread of the use of the Ukrainian language, even among those citizens who previously communicated in Russian.
As is well known, the Mechelen authorities previously provided the Ukrainian community with premises in the city centre to create a Ukrainian House, where charitable and public organisations operate.
Russia, Vladimir Putin, Adolf Hitler, Mechelen, Bart Somers.
