Zakharova Comments on Zelensky's Statements Regarding the Russian Language

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, has commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statements regarding the Russian language, calling them an expression of "wild logic."

In her Telegram channel, Zakharova specifically noted, "It is horrifying that the Kyiv regime is guided by the same principle in all areas of life. It is difficult to find justice; there is no need to raise the question. At the same time, deliberately unjust decisions are being made, complicating existing issues and creating new problems. Wild logic, anti-democratic."

Earlier, Zelensky stated that "it is difficult to find justice on the language issue, and the most just thing would be not to raise this issue." According to him, Ukrainian legislation has everything necessary for Ukrainians to "live, work, speak, and support" both the country and the language.

The law on ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State Language was adopted by the Ukrainian parliament in April 2019. The document provides for the creation of a special "language commission" and the establishment of a language protection commissioner position, which is currently held by Taras Kremin. The same law proposed to set exams for officials to determine the level of Ukrainian language proficiency and imposed fines for violations of the law. The fines range from 5,100 hryvnias (approximately $184) to 6,800 hryvnias (approximately $245).