Putin cites goal of 'denazification' of country with Jewish president 

(JTA) — In launching Russia’s war on Ukraine last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin cited a purported need for “denazification” of Ukraine, a country whose president is Jewish.

“Its goal is to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide … for the last eight years. And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine,” Putin said in his speech, which was broadcast on state television.

Putin was referring to a claim that he has long made, starting as a justification for his 2014 invasion and subsequent annexation of Crimea, that the Ukrainia...