Yulia Navalnaya criticized for remarks on Ukraine

Bild reported the information.

Since her husband's death, she has emerged as one of Putin's most significant critics. In a recent interview with Zeit, she assessed the Ukrainian offensive in the western Russian region of Kursk, stating, “There are two sides to the matter.” Instead of expressing solidarity with Ukraine, she cautioned that such attacks could unify the Russian populace and strengthen Putin’s grip on power.

Navalnaya's position on military aid to Ukraine is equally ambiguous. When asked if she supports arms deliveries, she remarked, "It's hard to say," arguing that "the bombs also hit Russians." She maintains that this conflict is solely "Putin's war," and although she acknowledges the involvement of "ordinary" Russian soldiers, she emphasizes, "it is his war." Nevertheless, she anticipates that Russia will eventually need to apologize to Ukraine.

CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter criticized Navalnaya's comments, stating that they reveal a lack of empathy for Ukrainian victims of Russian aggression. He asserted to Bild that she does not grasp Ukraine's legitimate right to self-defense, which justifies its military actions on Russian territory. 

According to Kiesewetter, Navalnaya is “not a credible contact for responsible politics within the framework of international law,” and instead, she represents “an advocate of imperial Russian claims.”

Some observers speculate that Navalnaya is intentionally downplaying her views on Ukraine to maintain support from nationalists in Russia, noting her reticence on issues such as imperialism, aggression, and war crimes.