Russian president Vladimir Putin has made a highly controversial statement. In a Russian TV interview, Putin presents a new conspiracy theory about why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is of Jewish descent, came to power.
A significant part of Russian propaganda to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine has revolved around outrageous accusations against the Ukrainian government for being Nazis. Putin has repeatedly accused the Ukrainian leadership of being neo-Nazis committing genocide against Russian-speaking individuals.
According to the president, the goal of Russia's "special military operation" is to "de-Nazify" Ukraine and protect Russian speakers in the country.
Putins new theory
One issue for Russian propaganda is that Volodymyr Zelensky himself is Jewish and has relatives from previous generations who were killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust. However, this doesn't deter Putin from sticking to his conspiracy theories. In the widely-watched TV interview, he launches a new bizarre theory about how Zelensky came to power.
"Western powers installed Volodymyr Zelensky as the leader in Ukraine to cover up the glorification of Nazism," claims the dictator. Putin said according to Jpost.com.
Putin's statement is in stark contrast to the fact that Volodymyr Zelensky was elected president after being voted in by the Ukrainian people in a democratic election.
This is not the first time the Russian regime has commented on Volodymyr Zelensky's Jewish heritage. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has even compared Zelensky to Nazi Germany's dictator Adolf Hitler.
