“Without a doubt, despite five years of controversy, both the leadership in Moscow and the Russian people are warm to Ukraine. Yes, today is not the easiest time, but the new government in Kiev gets the opportunity to turn the conflicting page of the history of its predecessors and start a conversation with Russia from scratch to further improve relations between the two countries, ”the deputy noted.
According to the parliamentarian, having seen positive steps towards rapprochement on the part of the Ukrainian leadership, Russia will not postpone the renewal of both economic and political ties with Ukraine.
Balbek also added that the meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders during the Norman-format summit, scheduled for December 9, could be “a historic step in resuming bilateral relations.”
“I want to believe in it, and I hope that my opinion is shared by millions of Ukrainians. We see that they try to put President Zelensky in the wheel, all the time his critics talk about some kind of surrender of interests ... We want peace with Ukraine, and I want to believe that today's official Kiev understands this, ”he concluded.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, commenting on the possibility of resuming relations between Moscow and Kiev, said that if Ukraine is interested in this, then it will not “rust” the Russian side.