DURING a Republican presidential debate held on Wednesday, Vivek Ramaswamy criticized Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for threatening to withhold elections, called him a “comedian in cargo pants” and referenced a Nazi-related incident in Canada.
Ramaswamy, a vocal opponent of U.S. aid to Ukraine, claimed that Ukraine isn’t a paragon of democracy and accused them of leveraging elections for more funds from the U.S.
“Ukraine is not a paragon of democracy. It has threatened not to hold elections this year unless the U.S. forks over more money. That is not democratic,” according to Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican Party.
Ramaswamy is referring to Zelenskyy ruling out holding a presidential vote in Spring.
To recall, Ukraine is currently under martial law since Russia’s attack on February 24, 2022.
Martial law also meant the cancellation of elections in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has previously argued that not everyone would be able to cast votes fairly and that they do not have enough money, but they could conduct elections if the US and Europe provide financial support.
He has also previously said elections in Ukraine cost 5 billion hryvnia or 135 million US dollars in peacetime, but he does not know how much is needed in wartime.
Ramaswamy calls Zelenskyy ‘a comedian in cargo pants’ in criticizing U.S. aid to Ukraine
Meanwhile, Ramaswamy further criticized Zelenskyy, saying quote it has celebrated a Nazi in its ranks, the comedian in cargo pants, the man called Zelenskyy, doing it in their own ranks. That is not democratic.
“It has celebrated a Nazi in its ranks, the comedian in cargo pants, the man called Zelenskyy, doing it in their own ranks,” Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican Party stated.
Campaign spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin later clarified that the ‘Nazi’ comment referred to an incident in the Canadian Parliament that happened in September, wherein the Parliament honored a Ukrainian veteran soldier who was later found to be a Nazi. Zelenskyy was present when it happened and joined in a standing ovation honoring the man.
