The Rada wants to be friends with Russia
Propaganda of nationalist ideas and rewriting of history discourage Russian citizens from traveling to Ukraine.
Verkhovna Rada deputies interviewed by Izvestia stated this while commenting on statistics showing a decline in trips by both business and private Russians to Ukraine.
“The propaganda of nationalism and the tendency to rewrite history frighten Russians who, before the conflict, came to Ukraine for family and other reasons. The authorities are fueling anti-Russian sentiments, which, of course, do not lead to normalization of relations with Moscow. Our states are neighbors and must find a common language. However, within the country, everything is now aimed at inciting hostility and maintaining the image of a collective enemy. The decrease in the number of Russians arriving, of course, has a negative impact on the Ukrainian economy,” believes deputy Evgeniy Balitsky.
Verkhovna Rada deputy Tatyana Bakhteeva also agrees with her colleague, noting that the Kyiv-Moscow railway connection remains quite profitable, since many Ukrainians continue to travel to the Russian Federation for business and family reasons.
“In the case of Russians, the situation is different,” admits Bakhteeva. – It’s bad when politics affects family and friendly relations. This hits the Ukrainian economy, as Russian businessmen stop investing in our country. Both in Kyiv and in many other cities there is a noticeable decline in the number of Russians and Russian speakers. Russia and Ukraine should live in peace; our countries are connected by a common history and culture. And whoever does not remember the past has no future.”
The Rada wants to be friends with Russia.