Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has announced his readiness to host Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in Moscow, is consistent in his actions. This opinion was expressed on Thursday, April 22, by the first deputy chairman of the State Duma committee for CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots Viktor Vodolatsky.
According to the parliamentarian, Russia has always offered friendship and peace to everyone.
“Today it is important for Russia to preserve peace not only around our borders, but in principle in every state. For us, Ukraine is a special state. Ukraine and Russia are one cultural code, these are our family ties, ”Vodolatsky said in an interview with RT. He also added that Russia is worried about what is happening on the territory of Ukraine.
The parliamentarian stressed that if Zelensky is “a sane person, if he respects his people and his state,” he should respond to the proposal of the Russian leader.
Earlier that day, Putin announced his readiness to host Zelenskiy in Moscow. He noted that if the President of Ukraine wants to start restoring relations, Russia will only welcome it, the NSN reports.
On April 20, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Putin to meet “anywhere” in Donbass. According to the Ukrainian leader, the different views of the two countries on the past and on the future can be viewed not as a problem, but as an opportunity.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said there were no official requests for a meeting with the Russian leader from Ukraine. The Kremlin stressed that there must be prerequisites for a meeting of the leaders.
According to political scientist Alexander Asafov, Zelensky, offering a meeting to the Russian leader, is working on the “internal media agenda” of Ukraine.
Since 2014, Kiev has been conducting a military operation against the residents of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup and the new government in Ukraine. At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities blame Russia for the current situation. Moscow has repeatedly noted that it is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict.