In his annual live “live” television show, Putin answers questions from the public in real time.
“He [Zelenskis] subjected Ukraine to external administration. The issues of Ukraine’s daily life are decided not in Kiev, but in Washington. And to some extent in Berlin and Paris, “Putin said.
He expressed confidence that the Ukrainian people were not hostile to Russia. “However, the Ukrainian leadership, modern Ukraine’s modern leadership is obviously hostile to us,” he added.
Putin also claimed that Ukraine was repressing the opposition, and in particular criticized the crackdown on Viktor Medvedchuk, who was suspected of treason. Medvedchuk is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and in Ukrainian media he is called “Putin’s body” because Putin is the godfather of Medvedchuk’s daughter.
Since 2014, Ukraine has been in a de facto state of war with Russia, which has occupied and annexed its Crimean peninsula.
In addition, Russia has invaded mainland Ukraine since the occupation of Crimea. Currently, Moscow’s armed and funded militant gangs control large areas of Donbass in eastern Ukraine.
