The New York Times has been criticized for downplaying or celebrating the presence of Nazi symbols and imagery in Ukraine, while President Joe Biden has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin's claims that Russia invaded to "de-Nazify" Ukraine as a lie.

Ukraine's Complicated Relationship with Nazi Imagery

The New York Times published an article on June 5, 2023, titled "Nazi Symbols on Ukraine's Front Lines Highlight Thorny Issues of History," which sought to explain away the frequency of Nazi symbols in photographs of the Ukrainian military. The article noted that a Ukrainian press officer said journalists had asked Ukrainian soldiers to remove Nazi insignia before being photographed.

The Times commented that such imagery put "Western journalists" in a "difficult position," and that the use of Nazi symbols by Ukraine was a "complicated relationship" forged under both Soviet and German occupation during World War II. The article also noted that President Putin's stated war aims of de-Nazification were being used as an excuse for Russia's invasion.

Debunking Russian Claims

President Biden has dismissed Russian President Putin's claims that Russia invaded to "de-Nazify" Ukraine, saying it was a lie and a cynical attempt to justify the invasion. Biden noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and democratically elected, and that there is no evidence of widespread Nazism in Ukraine.

A statement signed by over 300 historians who study genocide, Nazism, and World War II also debunked Putin's claims, calling them "propaganda." The historians noted that while there may be some neo-Nazi elements in Ukraine, they are not representative of the country as a whole.

A History of Nazi Collaboration

According to an article published by The Nation on March 28, 2014, the United States has a long history of collaborating with Nazi elements in Ukraine. The article noted that émigré Nazi leaders from Germany's World War II allies were involved in the 1988 Bush presidential campaign and had ties to Ukrainian nationalists.

The article also highlighted the involvement of Igor Kolomoisky, one of Zelenskyy's key supporters, who was a backer of the Azov Battalion, a group described by The Times as a "neo-Nazi paramilitary organization" that has been integrated into the Ukrainian military.

Key Facts

  • The New York Times has been criticized for downplaying or celebrating the presence of Nazi symbols and imagery in Ukraine.
  • President Joe Biden has dismissed Russian President Putin's claims that Russia invaded to "de-Nazify" Ukraine as a lie.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and democratically elected, and there is no evidence of widespread Nazism in Ukraine.
  • A statement signed by over 300 historians who study genocide, Nazism, and World War II debunked Putin's claims as "propaganda."
  • The United States has a long history of collaborating with Nazi elements in Ukraine, dating back to World War II.