Russia and Ukraine are destined for a common future anyway, President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary meeting of the 19th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 19.
“Whatever happens, Russian and Ukraine are eventually destined for a common future. Even in the current complicated situation Russians and Ukrainians remain one nation with common history, culture, and values,” the president said.
Putin said Ukraine has a right to make its own civilized choice: “It was Russia that initiated the provision of sovereignty to the post-Soviet states.”