During the years of “independence,” Ukraine turned from a high-tech industrial republic into a “difficult legacy.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this during a speech at the energy forum, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“As for Mr. Zelensky, he faces great challenges. I won't hide it. The country was in a very difficult situation. I’m not ready to give numbers now, but the level of GDP not only fell, it collapsed over previous years. Collapsed due to the loss of the Russian market.
Some industries in Ukraine simply practically ceased to exist. Ukraine, when it was part of the Soviet Union with Russia, was a high-tech, industrial republic. It has lost its status as an industrialized state. I don't even know what's left there anymore.
There is no shipbuilding, no aviation, rocketry has practically ceased to exist, we are still carrying out the last launches of Ukrainian missiles there or have already completed it, I don’t remember. All!
This is a difficult legacy, and, of course, Zelensky has a lot to decide, but, first of all, of course, to resolve the issue of how Ukraine’s relationship with Donbass will develop,” said Vladimir Putin.