Toronto (Canada), September 27 (EFE).- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized this Wednesday for the tribute that the Canadian Parliament paid last Friday to a former Nazi fighter of the Waffen-SS during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“On behalf of this House, I would like to sincerely apologize for what happened on Friday and for the situation in which President Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation were placed,” Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament on Wednesday.

“Paying tribute to this individual without knowing who he was was a terrible mistake and a violation of the memory of all those who suffered cruelties at the hands of the Nazi regime,” Trudeau added.

Trudeau apologized on behalf of Canada but did not acknowledge his personal responsibility for the scandal despite pressure from the opposition, whose leader, Conservative Pierre Poilievre, described it as “the greatest diplomatic embarrassment.” of the country’s history.

The prime minister also did not directly respond to opposition questions about whether he had spoken personally with Zelensky to apologize for the tribute to Yarsolav Hunka, a 98-year-old Canadian from Ukrainian origin who was a Nazi soldier during World War II.

Hunka was invited to Parliament by the Speaker of the Lower House, Anthony Rota, who resigned yesterday and considered himself solely responsible for inviting the former Nazi fighter.

Hunka was part of the 14th SS Grenadier Division, made up of Ukrainians who fought against the Soviet Union during World War II.

At Rota’s invitation, Hunka was present during Zelensky’s speech in the Lower House on Friday.

Midway through the session, Rota noted Hunka’s presence and introduced him, to everyone’s applause, including Zelensky and Trudeau, as “a hero” and “a veteran of World War II, who stood fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops even at 98 years old. »

Two days later, Canadian Jewish organizations revealed Hunka’s past, sparking an international scandal exploited by Russia to criticize both Canada and Ukraine.

(c) EFE Agency