President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that a large number of Russians support the unity of Ukraine, and they are ashamed of Russia's illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula. He stated this in an interview for Dom TV channel.
The Head of State noted that Russian propaganda deliberately broadcasts the narrative that all Ukrainians hate Russians, although this is not true.
"There are many Russians who support the unity of Ukraine. They support Donbas and consider it solely Ukrainian. They are uncomfortable and ashamed of everything related to Crimea. Very ashamed. And they all say that Russian history will later mourn over Russia's steps and decisions regarding Crimea," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
"Because Crimea is the first match, the first flake of fire due to which two peoples - for a generation or two - treat each other this way: don't want to see, don't want to hear. Many Russian-speaking Ukrainians have switched to the Ukrainian language - we all know it - because (speaking Russian - ed.) has become even distressing for them, because their brother or father was killed," he said.
At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that there are many Russians who support Ukrainians and "suffer political consequences" for that.