What’s happening

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has made a controversial comparison between Israel’s war against Hamas and Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, which Russia terms as “denazification”.

Why it matters

Lavrov’s comments offer an insight into Russia’s perspective on its invasion of Ukraine and also reflect on how Russia perceives its actions in alignment with those of other nations, such as Israel, in their legitimate fights against terrorism. This assertion can have significant international diplomatic repercussions, especially how the global community views the Russian-Ukraine war in contrast to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Big Picture

The interview with Lavrov delved into various conspiracy theories surrounding global and historical events. Lavrov’s failure to disavow such theories and his connection of them to significant historical events such as the moon landing and 9/11, poses a bewildering stance in global diplomacy.

Context

Lavrov equated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s calls for the destruction of Hamas and elimination of extremism to Russia’s justifications of denazification in Ukraine. Lavrov’s remarks could be read as an attempt to draw a parallel of legitimacy between two very different conflicts.

Shared Historical Struggle

Highlighting the common heritage in the fight against Nazism, Lavrov stressed the importance of remembering the sacrifice of both Jews and Russians during World War II. He underscored that Israel’s reaction to Ukraine’s celebration of historical figures with Nazi ties was concerning. Such statements tie current geopolitical issues back to a collective historical narrative.

Between the lines

Lavrov’s comments need to be seen in the wider context of Russian and Israeli relations, and the shared history between the countries, particularly around the struggle against Nazism. However, equating the situations in Ukraine and Gaza may overlook the unique complexities of each region’s history, current political climate, and the international legal principles governing conflicts.

Bottom line

Russia’s top diplomat’s statements at the UN Security Council and during interviews reflect Moscow’s ongoing narrative regarding the situation in Ukraine, which draws on comparative historical and political reasoning. The implications extend beyond mere rhetoric, affecting diplomatic relations and international perspectives on the ethics and legality of military interventions.

This story was first published on jpost.com.