- Mr. Zelensky, the Ukrainian president-elect, replied to your statement in Beijing, saying that he was eager to issue passports to all Russian citizens and to everybody who is ready to defend freedom and democracy.
Vladimir Putin: Did he? Really? Very good. This suggests that we can agree because we have much in common then. I think it's actually one people with our specific features – cultural, linguistic and historical. And if we have common citizenship, both Russians and Ukrainians would only gain. As for freedom and so on, this is also an important point. However, in this regard, it is probably better to start not with Russia. For example, it would be only fair to return a Ukrainian passport to the man who was formerly a Georgian and now considers himself to be a Ukrainian. I mean Mikhail Saakashvili. From my point of view, he was unlawfully deprived of his citizenship and expelled from the country. His infringed rights should be reinstated. The same also applies to some other Ukrainian citizens who had to leave the country and go to the promised land, fleeing from the current Ukrainian regime.
- You said you have much in common, almost like-minded persons. Could you specify that? But why?
- Everything is very simple. If Ukraine begins issuing passports to Russian citizens and Russia issues passports and grants citizenship to Ukrainians then sooner or later we will inevitably come to the expected result: everybody will have joint citizenship. We can't but welcome it.
- So long!
- "So long!" in Ukrainian.
- Ivan Sergeevich. The head of the city of Gorlovka.
Ivan Prikhodko, head of the Gorlovka administration: Let me calmly answer your Ukrainian guests. Firstly, if you're so ignorant, I can provide an example of three hospitals for you: in Donetsk, Yasinovataya, and Gorlovka, which are constantly shelled, for your information. As for the tragedy in Lugansk, which is common for us as a mining region, a mine-rescue team was immediately sent from Donetsk. While Mr. Volynets, head of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions, wondered the next day why nobody had asked them for help. Just come and offer help! Our Russian brothers came and helped! Now, speaking about the passports…
- Of the rescuers?
- Yes. Speaking about the passports, there's a joke in Donetsk. You'll get what I mean. The thing is that the checkpoints have been working a great deal. And people openly admit that they're going to apply for citizenship in the Donetsk People's Republic because Russian passports won't be issued to those who don't have DPR passports. And the number of applications to the republic's migration service for DPR citizenship has increased by 4-5 times! So, speaking about Zelensky's initiative to issue Ukrainian passports to Russians, I'd say that we've calculated that it will take at least three years to issue Russian passports to those who currently have DPR passports. If Zelensky wants to issue passports, I guess he'll be done within a day. Such is the number of people who'd want to get one. And it's important for the population of Donbass, even if they won't be able to leave the country…
- Wait, let's carry out an experiment! We'll all get Ukrainian passports and go to Ukraine to make things right there!
- Olya, you'll be refused the entry, I'm sure. But if she's a citizen?
- There will be many of us. Aleksandr?
Aleksandr Okhrimenko, political analyst, Ukraine: As for the passports, this idea is known to enjoy massive support. I guess they should've started it earlier. Meaning Zelensky's idea or Putin's? I mean Putin's idea, I suggested long ago to issue passports to the DPR and LPR. I even said that on Ukrainian television a few years ago. Now, stage two. Russia recognizes the independence of the DPR and LPR. Stage three: diplomatic relations are established, the DPR and LPR accede to the Eurasian Economic Union. That's from the Russian side. And why is Zelensky to do it? I hope he'll do it. After the inauguration, he…
- You're speaking as if you were already waiting in line to get a Russian passport.
- No, I wouldn't take your passport for free. To be honest, I prefer the Ukrainian one. But look, to date, Zelensky, as the Commander in Chief, has only one option: to issue a cease-fire order. It's actually true. As a result, the independence of the DPR and LPR would be recognized, like in the Abkhazian scenario, and the conflict is frozen for the next 100 years. In 100 years, we'll be able to reconsider the issue when, I believe, hostilities end. Understandably, what Zelensky is expected to do is to cease hostilities. So, if the DPR and LPR want to be part of Russia, no problem. Putin thinks it's possible to recognize independence, again, no problem. Currently, people are speculating about some special status, Guys, what status? No way. For the next 100, the situation is frozen, hostilities ended.
- Ended?!
- Jammu and Kashmir, for example, over 60 years. Nagorno-Karabakh, another example. What else? North and South…
- Transnistria.
- No, not Transnistria.
- Why not?
- Well, okay, Transnistria as well. But I meant Southern and Northern Cyprus. And this is the real future which is to come. Then the DPR and LPR can safely exist.
- But Zelensky didn't mean that in his Facebook (запрещена в РФ) post.
- To date, Zelensky is really…
- Zelensky says: "First, give us Crimea and Donbass, then we'll talk".
- To date, Zelensky can speak…
- Well, it's just Zelensky who writes so.
- Again, Zelensky can speak independently before he's president. When he's president, he'll have the foreign minister, I wonder who it'll be, and then we'll see. But right now, it's too early to draw conclusions. Indeed, I understand that the majority of the DPR and LPR population will get Russian passports, just like the Abkhazians. It's true. I understand that most people will work in Russia, it's true. As well as study. It's true. It would be nice to give pensions in the DPR and LPR using Russian budget funds. Then we can brave it out. Then we can reconsider the idea of a confederation, etc. But for now, as you know, after the war, shelling, and so on. Speaking about a special status... I just don't believe in it.
