Russia reacted to Trudeau’s apology. “These words are not enough”
“The Government and Parliament of Canada must muster the courage to apologize to all Russians and the Russian community of Canada for the shameful incident,” Oleg Stepanov said, responding to Justin Trudeau’s statement.
Justin Trudeau’s statement was related to the visit of the President of Ukraine to Canada, during which Marshal Anthony Rota honored veteran Yaroslav Hunka, presented as a hero who fought against Russia during World War II. However, it turned out that the 98-year-old, who received an ovation from the Canadian Parliament, fought in the Nazi 14th Waffen SS division.
Stepanov: Trudeau must apologize
“For all of us who were present, unknowingly honoring this person was a terrible mistake and a violation of the memory of those who suffered painfully at the hands of the Nazi regime,” Trudeau said. The Russian ambassador to Canada, quoted by TASS, said that the prime minister’s statement was “not an apology at all.” “And these words are not enough,” he added.
“Despite the deep differences between Moscow and Ottawa in the context of the current geopolitical situation, the government and parliament of Canada must muster the courage to apologize to all Russians and the Russian community of Canada for the shameful incident that the whole world saw on September 22,” Oleg Stepanov said.
Russia reacts to the words of the Canadian Prime Minister
The diplomat emphasized that during World War II, millions of Russian soldiers and civilians died at the hands of Nazi troops, including death squads, Hitler’s collaborators and the aforementioned 14th Waffen SS division. “Almost every Russian family, including Russian Canadians, lost at least one family member in the fight against Nazism,” Stepanov wrote.
The First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN also commented on Justin Trudeau’s apology. “A real apology would be for Canada to support our annual UN General Assembly resolution condemning the heroization of Nazi collaborators,” he wrote on X. Dmitry Polanski said that the November vote will show whether the Canadian prime minister “will actually be willing to make amends.”