Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu responded with an Odessa anecdote to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in response to his recent statements about Crimea.

“You know, there is an old Odessa anecdote when a visitor asks at the Cathedral about an inoperative fountain:“ Was there a fountain here? ”

To which the inhabitant of Odessa answers him: “Why beat?

He beat, is and will be, ”Shoigu said during his working trip to Krasnoyarsk.

The head of the Russian Defense Ministry stressed that the status of the Crimean peninsula will not change.

“So it is with the Crimea.

Ukrainian leaders come and go.

And Crimea has always been, is and will be Russian, ”he added.

This week, the Ukrainian TV channel Nash published a series of statements by Volodymyr Zelenskiy regarding Crimea.

In particular, the head of state called Crimea "his land", stating that this territory allegedly "will never be Russian", and its return to Ukraine is "a matter of time."

Also, in his opinion, Russians “will never love Crimea as much” as Ukrainians.

In addition, he expressed the opinion that Russia would allegedly regret its actions in relation to the Crimean peninsula.

“Russian history will still mourn its own steps and decisions regarding Crimea,” Zelensky said.

He called Crimea “the first match”, which caused the worsening of relations between Ukrainians and Russians, probably for several generations.

In March 2014, a referendum was held in Crimea, in which most of the inhabitants of the peninsula spoke out in favor of reunification with Russia, after which this territory became part of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, Russian officials have repeatedly noted that the issue of Crimea is closed, since it is a constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

  • Sergei Shoigu / Vladimir Zelensky

  • © RIA Novosti / Reuters

In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged residents of Donbass, who consider themselves Russian, to leave for Russia.

According to him, it would be a "big mistake" for these citizens to stay in this region, since it "will never be Russian territory."

He pointed out that there will be no civilization in Donbass without Ukraine.

“Therefore, I believe: if you love Russia and have been on the territory of Ukraine all your life and felt that this is Russia, then you must understand that in the name of your children and grandchildren you already need to go and look for a place in Russia.

This is correct, ”he said.

"Zelensky can fantasize anything"

As Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, noted, the "matches" about which Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks, were lit at one time by Ukrainian politicians.

“Independent Ukraine was built by ousting everything Russian and Russian from the territory of Ukraine.

At the same time, they wanted, of course, that Russia would supply them with everything for free.

For a period it was like that, but then rationality began to prevail in our actions, and relations began to be built on the basis of economic and political interests.

The situation was not bad, but it was Ukraine that spoiled relations with Russia.

And to say that Crimea has ruined relations for many generations to come is a complete lie, "the senator explained in an interview with RT.

He noted that it is the nationalists who have come to power in Ukraine that are pursuing a clearly pronounced Russophobic policy that spoils bilateral relations.

“When these individuals leave, stop influencing the leadership of Ukraine, relations between the two countries will improve.

They will recover and be normal, friendly.

In any case, people will come - I am sure that it will not take much time for this - who understand that the future of Ukraine is only an alliance with Russia, ”he explained.

Also on russian.rt.com "Degraded without becoming a politician": Russia reacted to Zelensky's words about Crimea's ownership

In turn, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexei Chepa stressed that relations between Moscow and Kiev were spoiled by the position of Ukraine, which, following Washington's directives, has been pursuing a Russophobic policy for many years.

“The position on the destruction of the culture of our peoples, historical monuments and common faith led to the 'Maidan', to the victims among the people and to the fact that the majority of the inhabitants of Crimea were in favor of returning to Russia.

That's all.

And Zelensky can fantasize anything there, ”said the interlocutor of RT.

At the same time, Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma's international affairs committee, called on the Ukrainian authorities to abandon nationalist rhetoric, which has already turned into "irreparable consequences" for the country.

“If the Ukrainian authorities continue to follow this course, there will be no talk of any unity in a country where half of the population speaks Russian, where a huge number of residents have relatives in Russia!

Ukraine is already rapidly losing its population, people are moving either to Russia or to Europe, ”he wrote in his Telegram channel.