(MENAFN) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has drawn a parallel between the Nazis of World War II Germany and certain groups in Ukraine, accusing both of committing killings based on ethnic identity. He referred specifically to the 2014 tragedy in Odessa as an example.

Speaking after discussions with Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev on Sunday, Lavrov compared the Third Reich’s persecution of Jews to what he described as the actions of “Ukrainian Nazis” who allegedly set fire to Russian civilians in Odessa on May 2, 2014, solely because of their ethnicity.

This reference points to violent confrontations during the early stages of the Ukraine crisis, when clashes between pro-Ukrainian and anti-Maidan protesters led to a fire at the Trade Unions House, resulting in numerous deaths. Russian authorities have labeled this event a massacre carried out by Ukrainian nationalist factions.

Lavrov also criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for advocating stronger Ukrainian defense measures and cautioning European nations against repeating the 1930s policy of appeasement by negotiating with Russia on its terms. He described Merz’s comparison as “a stunning comparison for a person who expects to be taken seriously as chancellor of Germany,” and reiterated that Moscow seeks a fair resolution to the conflict but rejects what it calls deceptive approaches pushed by some European leaders.

Moscow denies any intention of attacking NATO countries and has consistently raised concerns about the resurgence of Nazi ideology in Ukraine and the alleged suppression of Russian culture by Kyiv. The Kremlin identifies “denazification” as a core objective in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

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