Comparing Russia to Nazi Germany Is Unfair

Re “Russia’s Downhill Slide to Dictatorship,” Commentary, Jan. 9: Niall Ferguson may be generally right in viewing the current regime in Russia. However, it is simply outrageous how he parallels Hitler’s ambitions regarding Poland and Czechoslovakia on one side and Russia’s feelings toward Ukraine on the other.

Russia and Ukraine were one country for more than three centuries. For Russians to hear that, say, Kiev, Kharkov and Odessa are now in another country is the same as for Americans to imagine that Los Angeles is in Mexico or Chicago is in Canada. Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, was called the “mother of Russian cities.” Half of Ukraine’s population speaks Russian as their mother tongue. Did a half of Germans speak Polish? However unfair the government in Russia is today, please be fair to the feelings of Russian people.

Vladimir Bogorad

Chatsworth