Roger Waters: "Ukraine is not really a country, it is controlled by Nazis" - voila! culture

Roger Waters returns to "The Wall" ((Photo: Reuters, video editing: Liraz Levana))

Musician Roger Waters, former leader of the band Pink Floyd, said that he thinks Ukraine is run by Nazis and that it is "not really a country".

In an extensive interview with the "Telegraph" newspaper, the 79-year-old Waters said, referring to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, that the claim that Russia's invasion happened after there was no provocation "is fucking crazy" and added that the "Nazis control" the government of Ukraine.

Waters added that in his opinion some of the criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin is "unfair": "About three months ago I called Putin a gangster. It may not have been fair. It may be that he is leading his country for the benefit of all Russian citizens."

Yesterday, Waters spoke before the UN Security Council at the invitation of Russia, and called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Ukraine's ambassador to the UN mocked him and called him "another brick in Moscow's propaganda wall."

Roger Waters (Photo: GettyImages)

The writer Polly Samson, the wife of David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and who was a partner in writing songs of a band, made harsh accusations against Waters on Tuesday and, among other things, attacked him with the words "You are anti-Semitic to the bone" and "Putin supporter".

Waters and Gilmour have had a strained relationship for decades.

The confrontation this time arose after Waters attacked the "Israeli lobby" on the grounds that it tried to "silence" him in light of his upcoming performances in Germany.

A number of local politicians and religious leaders called for the cancellation of the performances due to his statements against Israel in the past.

In a recent interview with Waters for a German newspaper, Waters said that he thought it was "very sad" that his former bandmates released their first single in 30 years in support of Ukraine, called "Hey Hey Rise Up".

Samson tweeted yesterday: "Roger Waters, unfortunately you are anti-Semitic to the core. Also a Putin supporter and liar, thief, hypocrite, tax raiser, lipsync, misogynist, jealous, megalomaniac. Enough with your nonsense."

Her husband David Gilmour, who since Waters left Pink Floyd in the mid-1980s serves as the leader of the band, shared the tweet and wrote: "Every word is true without a doubt."

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