“I accept full responsibility for my actions,” Rota continued, stating that his resignation will take effect at the end of Wednesday.
Last Friday, during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Rota paid tribute to Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant.
He hailed Hunka as “a Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran of World War II who fought for Ukraine’s independence against the Russians” and described him as “a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero,” prompting a standing ovation from the members.
But Hunka actually served in the 14th SS Waffen Grenadier Division, “a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well documented,” according to the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal, an organization dedicated to Holocaust education programs. Holocaust and anti-Semitism.
After the incident, Rota faced increasing pressure to resign.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, met on Friday in Ottawa with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who promised to help Kiev “as long as necessary” and announced the shipment of new military equipment to the nation at war.
Trudeau announced a new aid package to kyiv worth 650 million Canadian dollars (482 million US dollars) over three years.
The package includes about 50 armored vehicles and training of Ukrainian pilots in F-16 fighter jets.
“We will be with you, along with all the heroes of this brave struggle, for as long as it is necessary,” said the Canadian president. “History will judge us by how we defend democratic values. And Ukraine is at the forefront of this great issue of the 21st century”