(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy found themselves embroiled in controversy as they gave a standing ovation to a 98-year-old Nazi veteran during the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Canada this weekend.
MASSIVE OUTRAGE after Canada’s parliament gave a standing ovation during Zelensky joint address Friday to Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian Nazi collaborator who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others.… pic.twitter.com/PFWQNEoM76
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) September 24, 2023
Yaroslav Hunka, a former member of the 14th Waffen-SS Grenadier Division, a volunteer unit comprised of ethnic Ukrainians under Nazi command, was the center of attention during the disturbing debacle.
The recognition of Hunka took place in the House of Commons, where House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced him as a “Ukrainian-Canadian war hero” from his local district, the Independent reported on Monday.
Both Trudeau and Zelenskyy stood up in unison to pay their respect to the disgraced former Nazi serviceman. Understandably, the move ignited a wave of criticism, with Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre demanding an apology from Trudeau.
Will this photo of Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland and Volodymyr Zelenskyy giving a standing ovation to a SS Nazi soldier in Parliament be the straw that breaks the camels back for the most incompetent, divisive and corrupt government in Canadian history?
Is it game over yet? pic.twitter.com/osbn74Gise
— Paul Mitchell (@PaulMitchell_AB) September 24, 2023
“Mr. Trudeau must personally apologize and avoid passing the blame to others as he always does,” Poilievre said.
In response to the mounting backlash, Trudeau issued an apology (sort of). “Obviously, it’s extremely upsetting that this happened,” Trudeau claimed. “The speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologized.”
So let me get this straight…
After Trudeau admits how “deeply embarrassing” it was for the Canadian Parliament to give a standing ovation to an actual Nazi, he quickly pivots to SocalistGPT talking points and blames RUSSIAN propaganda:
“It’s going to be really important that… pic.twitter.com/yvXbZJnc86
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 25, 2023
Trudeau, who came under under scrutiny for wearing “brownface” at a 2001 party celebrating “Arabian Nights,” strangely attempted to shift the blame to Russia for spreading disinformation.
“I think it’s gonna be really important that all of us push back against Russian propaganda, Russian disinformation and continue our steadfast and unequivocal support for Ukraine,” he added.
House Speaker Rota also issued an apology, admitting that he had been unaware of the former Nazi’s full story.
“I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to do so,” he remarked.
Notably absent from the apologies was Zelenskyy, who has faced his own share of troubles in recent months. During his visit to Canada, Zelenskyy sought foreign aid amid a backdrop of corruption scandals in Ukraine, particularly concerning fraudulent spending and war profiteering within the his defense department.
