Yad Vashem Blocks Zelenskyy’s Speech Over Holocaust Comparison Concerns
In late December 2025, Dani Dayan, chairman of Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, blocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from speaking at the site. The refusal came amid concerns that the event might compare the war in Ukraine to the Holocaust. Dayan stressed that Yad Vashem must remain focused solely on the victims of the Nazi genocide.
The decision followed Zelenskyy’s request to address an audience of around 300 guests at Yad Vashem, with plans to broadcast the speech worldwide. His proposal came shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as he sought to draw international attention to the conflict.
Dayan explained that Yad Vashem’s protocol restricts speeches to heads of state only during official state visits. He also warned against equating the Holocaust with other atrocities, stating that not every war crime is a genocide, and not every genocide is the Holocaust. His stance was reinforced by historical context, noting that during World War II, some Ukrainians collaborated with Nazi forces. Earlier, Zelenskyy had delivered a video address to Israel’s Knesset, which sparked criticism for its repeated references to the Holocaust. Dayan later clarified that his refusal was not about solidarity with Ukraine but about preserving the unique historical significance of the Shoah.
The rejection of Zelenskyy’s speech request underscores Yad Vashem’s strict policy on maintaining the Holocaust’s distinct historical weight. Dayan’s decision ensures the memorial remains dedicated exclusively to the six million Jewish victims of Nazi persecution. The move also highlights ongoing debates about how historical comparisons are used in modern conflicts.
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