Ukrainian first lady considers Hunka matter 'resolved'

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska believes Ukraine and Canada have put the Yaroslav Hunka affair behind them, she said in her first public comments on the matter since her visit to Canada last fall.

In a Canadian exclusive interview, Zelenska said it was unfortunate the vetting process allowed for a standing ovation in the House of Commons for Hunka — a Ukrainian Canadian who fought with a Nazi unit during the Second World War — during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit in September.

Speaking through a translator, Zelenska told CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault this week that Ukraine's delegation had no input into who was invited to Parliament.

«Of course, we couldn't control who would be invited to the Canadian Parliament. We couldn't give our guidance,» she said.

«It's bad that we conducted our research afterward, and not the people who had invited him to Parliament.»

She said she wasn't sure if a formal apology had been given.

«I can't say for sure, but I think that yes, at the official diplomatic level, this matter was somehow resolved,» Zelenska said.

She also highlighted how Russia used the incident as a propaganda tool.

«Indeed, this is yet another example of Russia using every opportunity to discredit us,» she said. «Any moment, any chance.»

Life-or-death situation

The interview comes nearly two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Defence experts say the country is facing a shortage of ammunition and troops, and new aid from the United States and European Union has been slow in coming.

Zelenska said that aid to Ukraine is a matter of life and death for the country's civilians and soldiers.

«I would really like to wish for all politicians who make any decision to remember that they are