Zelenskyj hits back at Putin: - A fight over the narrative

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By Ole Kristian Strøm - VG - Forfatter - 31 January 2024

President Vladimir Putin (71) does not recognize the Ukrainians as a separate people. Now Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi (45) is fighting back and wants to fight for Ukrainians living in Russia.

President Vladimir Putin (71) does not recognize the Ukrainians as a separate people. Now Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi (45) is fighting back and wants to fight for Ukrainians living in Russia.

The short version

The summary is made by the AI ​​tool ChatGPT and quality is assured by VG's journalists.

  • Ukrainian President Zelenskyy hits back at Putin and will fight for the rights of Ukrainians living in Russia.
  • He presents a decree to the country's National Security Council regarding ethnic Ukrainians in areas of Russia where they have historically lived.
  • Zelenskyj wants an action plan to preserve Ukrainian identity for those who live in these areas.
  • This is happening in response to Russia's denial of Ukraine's right to exist and is an important part of the war on narrative.

He specifically mentions several areas in southern Russia where "Ukrainians have historically lived".He specifically mentions several areas in southern Russia where "Ukrainians have historically lived".

President Putin has repeatedly denied Ukraine's right to exist and claimed that the country is ruled by neo-Nazis who have persecuted the ethnic Russian population.

- As the war is about Russia not recognizing that the Ukrainians exist as a separate people, I think that Zelensky's actions are now a part of this fight, says Tor Bukkvoll, a researcher at the Norwegian Defense Research Institute (FFI).- As the war is about Russia not recognizing that the Ukrainians exist as a separate people, I think that Zelensky's actions are now a part of this fight, says Tor Bukkvoll, a researcher at the Norwegian Defense Research Institute (FFI).

- Russia makes its claim, and the countermeasure from Ukraine is in every way to demonstrate that there is a Ukrainian people.- Russia makes its claim, and the countermeasure from Ukraine is in every way to demonstrate that there is a Ukrainian people.

President Zelenskyi's decree is presented by Ukrainaskaja Pravda as an order to the country's National Security Council to, among other things, look at the situation of the ethnic Ukrainians in areas of Russia where they have historically lived - such as Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov.President Zelenskyi

Zelenskyy wants an action plan to preserve the Ukrainian identity of those who live in these areas. Zelenskyy wants an action plan to preserve the Ukrainian identity of those who live in these areas.

- For this purpose, today I signed the decree "On territories historically inhabited by Ukrainians", says the Ukrainian president.- For this purpose, today I signed the decree "On territories historically inhabited by Ukrainians", says the Ukrainian president.

- I don't know if this has such great practical significance, but this war is not only fought with weapons, but it is also a battle for the narrative , says Tor Bukkvoll to VG.- I don't know if this has such great practical significance, but this war is not only waged with weapons, but it is also a battle for

- When Russia is going so hard in this regard, it is only to be expected that Ukraine will also take action.- When Russia is going so hard in this regard, it is only to be expected that Ukraine will also take action.

Zelenskyj: - We will win

News · 14 Dec. 20231:32 

Per-Anders Rudling, associate professor at Lund University and Ukraine expert, reacts like this when VG tells him the news: Per-Anders Rudling, associate professor at Lund University and Ukraine expert, reacts like this when VG tells him the news:

- There is a discussion about these areas which in the 1920s were considered ethnically mixed, but then the border was changed when areas became part of the Russian Soviet and not the Ukrainian Soviet. These were areas where they spoke a mixed language. There is a Ukrainian diaspora that believes that it was Russification and that a genocide was committed when Russian was introduced as a language in schools and millions of people were forcibly assimilated.-

There is a discussion about these areas which in the 1920s were considered ethnically mixed, but then the border was changed when areas became part of the Russian Soviet and not the Ukrainian Soviet. These were areas where they spoke a mixed language. There is a Ukrainian one

- What do you think about Zelenskyj bringing this up now?- What do you think about Zelenskyj bringing this up now?

- When Russia raises its borders, it is natural that Ukraine does the same. But, interestingly, Zelenskyj brings this up now, because he has not been so historically interested in the past - he has been more concerned with daily politics and "hands-on". The history belonged more to his predecessors Petro Poroshenko and Viktor Yushchenko.-

When Russia raises its borders, it is natural that Ukraine does the same. But, interestingly, Zelenskyj brings this up now because he has not been so historically interested in the past - he has been more concerned with daily politics and "hands-on". The history belonged more to his predecessors Petro Poroshenko and Viktor Yushchenko.

The official Moscow has not yet commented on the matter, but the outspoken Dmitry Medvedev, who was president of Russia from 2008 to 2012, has. He writes on Telegram: Official Moscow has not yet commented on the case, but the outspoken Dmitry Medvedev, who was president of Russia from 2008 to 2012, has. He signs

- There is nothing to comment on here since Ukrainians are Russians.- There is nothing to comment on here since Ukrainians are Russians.

- Little Russia is part of Russia. And it's time for the most important "Ukrainian" to quit. He will soon annex Canada”.- Little Russia is part of Russia. And it's time for the most important "Ukrainian" to quit. He will soon annex Canada”.

Ole Kristian Strøm - VG - Forfatter

Editor note.

According to historical accounts, the Varangians, led by figures like Rurik, were invited to rule over the Slavic tribes in the region, and they played a significant role in the establishment of Kyivan Rus. The connection to the term "rowers" reflects the maritime and seafaring activities of the Varangians, who navigated the rivers and waterways of Eastern Europe in their longships.