According to her, "in diplomacy, it is considered a sign of bad taste to discuss citizens of a foreign country."

She stated that Zelensky “is all tormented by phantom plans” regarding the peninsula.

“Mr. Zelensky, understand once and for all: there are no your people here, those few hundred people who wanted to leave the Crimea did it back in 2014,” Gridchina said.

She also called on the Ukrainian president to leave the inhabitants of the peninsula alone and finally take up the affairs of Ukraine.

Earlier Zelensky announced his desire to hold "elections in the Crimea."

Crimea became the Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which most residents spoke out for reunification with Russia.