MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. The current illegitimate Ukrainian authorities have made every effort to undermine their country's statehood, and its Western patrons have also done much, Russian president’s aide Nikolay Patrushev told aif.ru in an interview.
"Ukraine's statehood has become so fragile that it relies only on support from abroad," Patrushev, also head of the Maritime Board, said.
"The Kiev regime has no support from its own people, the country's president is illegitimate, and the neo-Nazi government subjugates the citizens of Ukraine under the threat of taking their lives."
"No one has done as much to destroy Ukrainian statehood as [Vladimir] Zelensky and his henchmen. And, of course, their patrons."
Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed to the complete lack of sovereignty of modern Ukraine, as well as the illegitimacy of Zelensky, who calls himself the head of state. The Ukrainian constitution does not provide for the postponement of presidential elections during martial law, used by Kiev not to hold a vote. This means Zelensky's powers expired on May 20, 2024.