“Jews will decide for themselves who is a hero of the Jewish people, who is a disgrace to the Jewish people. This is not yours…” – Chief Rabbi of Ukraine responded to Lavrov on his anti-Semitic statements about Zelensky

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Asman on March 3, 2025,
spoke in defense of Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov called
a “pure Nazi” and a “traitor to the Jewish people.” He emphasized that
there is no ethnic conflict in Ukraine and that antisemitism is considered
a criminal offense.

“I want to say that the Ukrainian people today are fighting for their independence and freedom.”
You invaded this land and started a war, killing Ukrainians—not only Ukrainians,
but also Ukrainian citizens of different nationalities: Russians, Jews, Tatars,
and others who lived here in peace, freedom, and dignity before your invasion.
There is no interethnic conflict in Ukraine. …
But I don’t need to prove anything to you.
“Look at yourselves, reassess your actions, and understand that Nazism today
is embodied by those who seek to destroy entire nations.”

He pointed out that modern Nazis are those who seek to erase entire countries
from the face of the earth, like Israel.
Iran and Hamas, both supported by Russia, want to destroy it.

“You welcome delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah,
refuse to recognize them as terrorist organizations,
and even provide them with weapons used to kill Jewish soldiers in Israel.”
“Therefore, your statements about Nazism are not just immoral—they are complete manipulation,”
said Moshe Asman.

He also added that only the Jewish people can decide who is a hero
and who is a disgrace to their nation.

“It is not for you to decide.”
“You may form your own judgments in your country,
but we, the Jewish people, will decide for ourselves,” the rabbi emphasized.

Asman reminded that the Russians killed his adopted son Anton
and took thousands of innocent lives as a result of their invasion of Ukraine,
and he will pray for a “just verdict” for their actions.

Full statement:

I cannot remain silent in response to yet another outrageous statement
from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov,
who called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
a “pure Nazi” and a “disgrace to the Jewish people.”

I want to address Lavrov.
Stop manipulating the topic of Nazism.
This is not the first time you’ve made such statements.
We remember how the entire Jewish community was shocked
by your ignorant claim about Hitler.

Now, regarding Nazism.
The Ukrainian people are fighting today for their independence and freedom.
You came to our country. You invaded, started a war,
and killed Ukrainians.
And not only Ukrainians—among your victims
are Ukrainian citizens of various nationalities: Ukrainians, Russians, Jews, Tatars,
and many others.
People who, before your invasion,
lived in peace, freedom, and dignity.

There is no interethnic conflict in Ukraine.
Moreover, the Ukrainian parliament is one of the few in the world
where antisemitism is recognized as a criminal offense at the legislative level.
This law is enforced, and if antisemites appear in Ukraine,
they are held accountable.

But I do not need to prove anything to you.
Look at yourselves. Look at your actions.

Who are the real Nazis today?

Today, Nazism is embodied by those
who seek to destroy entire nations.

This includes the Iranian regime,
which not only openly declares its intent to wipe Israel off the map,
but also takes concrete steps to achieve this.

This includes Hamas,
which on October 7 committed the worst massacre since the Holocaust.
They killed, tortured, and raped.

And it is Hamas that you support!
The terrorist delegation you welcomed in Moscow
just two weeks after their atrocities.

You receive delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah,
support Israel’s greatest enemy—Iran,
and supply weapons—weapons used to kill Israeli soldiers.

Your statements about Nazism are not just immoral; they are blatant manipulation.

The Jewish people will decide for themselves who their heroes and their disgraces are.

You dare to speak of “the disgrace of the Jewish people”?

Let’s be clear:
The Jewish people will decide for themselves who their heroes are and who their disgraces are.
This is not your right, not your opinion, not your authority.
You may decide matters within your own country,
but we, the Jewish people, will decide for ourselves.

You killed my son.

You killed my son, Anton—a war orphan raised by our family.

One month before he was murdered, his daughter was born—
his first and only child.

You invaded our country and took his life,
just as you took the lives of thousands of innocent people.

Wake up. Stop. Repent.

And we will pray that the Almighty and the Supreme Court
deliver a just verdict.

NAnews – Israel News