Whether Donetsk is autonomous or becomes part of Russia, Pushilin is adamant that it shouldn’t be part of Ukraine.
“Ukraine as a state for us, it no longer exists,” he said. “The vast majority of our residents want to be as close as possible to Russia.”
When asked about Russia’s involvement in the war, he repeats what the Kremlin says when asked about the topic: He denied that Russian weapons, equipment or troops were on the ground and said the region only receives political support and humanitarian assistance.
As for the troop buildup near the Ukrainian border, Pushilin dismissed the idea
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