LOS ANGELES — Hillary Rodham Clinton has sparked a political uproar this week by wading into the middle of the conflict in Ukraine, likening the moves of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the actions of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler leading up to World War II.
The former secretary of state’s provocative comparison drew swift rebukes Wednesday from U.S.-Russia policy experts — including some who served under her husband, former President Bill Clinton — while attracting rare notes of support from hawkish Republicans in Congress.
After invoking Hitler at a private fundraiser Tuesday, Clinton, who is a possible 2016 presidential candidate, largely stood by the remarks Wednesday. She said she was noting parallels between Putin’s claim that he was protecting Russian-speaking minorities in Crimea and Hitler’s moves into Poland, Czechoslovakia and other parts of Europe to protect German minorities.
“I just want people to have a little historic perspective,” Clinton said during a question-and-answer session at UCLA. “I’m not making a comparison certainly, but I am recommending that we perhaps can learn from this tactic that has been used before.”
Clinton added that Putin’s goal is “to re-Sovietize Russia’s periphery” and said he is “a tough guy with a thin skin” — something she said she knows from personal dealings with him.
