Croatian President Zoran Milanovich, known for his pro-Russian views, uttered the slogan “Glory to Ukraine” [Glorie Ucrainei] has the same origin as the slogan of the Ustashi movement, a far-right group that operated in the country during World War II, reports Ukrainian Pravda.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic threatened to withdraw Croatian troops from NATOPhoto: Armend NIMANI / AFP / Profimedia

During the ceremony in Zagreb, Milanović commented to journalists on the right-wing forces’ use of the slogan of the Ustashi movement, a salute equivalent to the Nazi salute, “Za dom spremni!” [Pentru patrie – gata!]which is officially banned in Croatia.

  • “There is no difference between “For the Motherland – Ready!”. and Glory to Ukraine. This is the cry of the most radical chauvinists of Western Ukraine, who collaborated with the Nazis and killed thousands of Jews and Poles. I don’t want to hear that in Croatia,” he said.
  • “I don’t care that some managers are “hooked” on it. Let them come with a different greeting,” the Croatian president added.

For reference, writes “Ukrainian Pravda” cs The slogan “Glory to Ukraine” (and the answer “Glory to the whole earth”) has existed at least since the 19th century and became widespread in the army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic at the beginning of the 20th century. century.

Zoran Milanovych is against the sanctions imposed by the West against Russia

The President of Croatia has made pro-Russian statements before. For example, in January he asked not to compare the situation in Kosovo with the annexation of Crimea, saying that Crimea will never be part of Ukraine again.

The President of Croatia also stated that the sanctions imposed by the West against Russia cannot be a solution to end the war in Ukraine

While Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has been sympathetic to military support for Ukraine, President Zoran Milanović has spoken out against such support and in November rejected a proposal by the Zagreb government that his country participate in the training of Ukrainian soldiers as part of the EU’s military assistance mission. (EUMAM) to resist Russian aggression.

President Zoran Milanovych argued that this action would violate the Constitution of Croatia, as it does not clarify the grounds for declaring Ukraine an ally, since it is neither a member of the EU nor NATO.

Then, in December, Croatian lawmakers narrowly rejected a proposal for their country to join an EU mission to support the Ukrainian military after hours of heated debate that reflected deep differences between the country’s prime minister and president.

Read also:

  • The president of the EU country rushes to the defense of Viktor Orbán: The plan cannot consist of sanctions against Russia / Should we be American slaves?
  • The Croatian Parliament rejected the country’s participation in the EU military support mission to Ukraine
  • The president of Croatia wants to block the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO
  • Croatia threatens to withdraw its troops from NATO in the event of the Alliance’s intervention in Ukraine
  • Ukraine summoned Croatia’s ambassador from Kyiv after President Zoran Milanovich’s statements about the withdrawal of troops from NATO
  • The president of Croatia awarded a general accused of war crimes

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