“Today’s statement by Ukrainian President Zelensky does not mean Ukraine’s desire to provide political asylum to Russian citizens, but the decision of the United States and Great Britain to limit or stop granting it to Russians,” Volodin said.

According to him, the United States and Great Britain "have become unnecessary at home" asylum seekers from Russia.

He also called populism Zelensky’s decision, noting that people “are massively leaving Ukraine in search of work.”

“Up to 3 million Ukrainians work in Russia alone, almost every 8th resident of Ukraine works abroad,” the State Duma speaker said.

Earlier Zelensky simplified the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship for Russians who participated in ensuring the security and defense of Ukraine, and were also subjected to “political persecution.”

The Director General of the Center for System Analysis and Forecasting Rostislav Ishchenko, commenting on the decree in an interview with the FBA “Economics Today,” noted that Ukraine is not the most attractive country for refugees.