Zhirinovsky: Ukraine should be with Russia, West sees it as second-rate
State Duma Deputy Speaker and LDPR faction leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky has said he believes that Ukraine should get closer to Russia because of their common history, culture and language, rather than try to join the EU.
"If you want to stand in the hallway in another palace, waiting for consent to be given for a temporary job, in the kitchen, then please do [join the EU]. Or you can be with a brotherly country, which has a common culture and language. I think that Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians are one nation," the Russian politician said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.
Zhirinovsky said that no country that had joined the EU had achieved positive economic results.
"There will be changes in the EU, and it will be reduced, [including] the euro zone and NATO. All depends on Germany. If Germany leaves NATO, the alliance will cease to exist, and if it leaves the euro zone, the euro will also collapse," he said, adding Germany is the backbone of the EU economy.
Zhirinovsky said that the Slavic peoples "have historically been second-rate citizens in Europe," so Ukraine will not be seen in the EU as an equal country. And in this situation, he said, it is necessary to strengthen the dialog between Ukraine and Russia.
"Our and your delegations fly to Latin America, but it would be better if State Duma deputies stayed in Kyiv and your members of parliament in Moscow. We have many problems that need to be resolved," he said.
He said that the countries have very good opportunities for economic development and that it was only necessary to properly build relations and engage in dialog, rather than be enemies.