Clear parallels can be drawn between Putin and Hitler – Belgian official

Clear parallels can be seen in the actions and words of Vladimir Putin with what Adolf Hitler said and did during World War II.

This view was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by Bart Somers, Mayor of the Belgian city of Mechelen.

“For me, it was very clear. All things he (Putin – ed.) said about Crimea, about Donbas was exactly the same as Hitler said about Sudeten in Czechoslovakia. The same rhetoric, the same false arguments, the same brutality, the same explanation: ‘If I get that, I will stop…’ Of course, he will not stop,” Somers said.

In his opinion, the Kremlin leader shows arrogance toward the Ukrainian people, claiming they do not exist, that they are all Russians.

“And if we allow him to just go on, we will betray our values, we will betray who we are. We have to do something. Understandably, the support for Ukraine might fluctuate over the years of war but for me it’s always present,” Somers emphasized.

He also noted that Putin is trying to destroy Ukrainian identity.

“I know how important for Ukrainians is their national identity. Putin has been consistently trying to destroy it, but with the war, he actually unified Ukrainians. Your identity is now stronger than ever. And the shift toward using Ukrainian language by many of those who had previously spoken Russian is also evident,” the Belgian official said.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Mechelen city administration has allocated premises in the city center – the “Ukrainian House” – for the Ukrainian community to organize the work of several charitable civic organizations.

Photo provided by the Mechelen City Hall