Putin said there are millions of Ukrainians living in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that more Ukrainians live in the Russian Federation than in Ukraine itself.

"It seems to me that Ukrainians already live in Russia, if not as many as in Ukraine, but maybe even more. I am not joking. It may well be. I mean those people who live in the new territories, in Crimea, and those who have moved to us. Millions of people. <...> By the way, we welcome this," the president said, noting that these are people of Russian culture and the Russian people.

Many questions about migration policy came from those who come not always to earn money, but from Russians who know the language well and wish to return to their homeland, get a Russian passport and become a full-fledged citizen of the country. Such appeals came from different countries, including CIS countries, Ukraine and Germany.

For example, the appeal was received from a Russian, Herman Zabel, who left for Germany in 1990 and returned in 2006. Now the man lives in Tarusa. Having a residence permit, he has been unable to obtain citizenship for many years, receiving the answer that he allegedly was not entitled to it and that only the president can issue citizenship. The situation changed, he said, when he told local officials that he had written a letter to Vladimir Putin.

"Citizenship is conferred by presidential decrees. This is a purely formal act that has to be prepared <...> by the relevant departments, commissions and so on. You have now raised issues that are called work with compatriots, that is, with those people who feel part of Russia. They speak Russian, they consider themselves part of our culture, part of the Russian world," Putin said, adding that such people are usually highly qualified specialists in whom the Russian Federation is interested.

On the essence of cases: over 1.6 million questions received on a direct line with Putin

In what format it will be held this time and what citizens are most concerned about

The direct line with Vladimir Putin in 2024 is combined with a press conference for the media. The format called "Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin" allows the president to convey his position not only on citizens' issues, but also on the state and world agenda, which is often asked about by journalists.

Representatives of Western media and foreign journalists accredited in Russia have also received invitations to the events.

As of the morning of December 19, the number of requests sent to the direct line with the president exceeded 2 million.

The first live broadcast took place in December 2001. By the President's own admission, this event is the most powerful sociological poll, which allows citizens to convey their position and assessment of the country's leadership.

The latest news about the "Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin - 2024" - in the Izvestia story.