Kremlin Spokesman Stresses Russia's Respect for Ukraine Sovereignty

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted on Friday that Moscow has no wish to see the Russian flag hoisted in Ukrainian territory, as it respects the country's sovereignty.

"No, we have no wish to see our flag hoisted in Ukraine," Peskov said. "We do respect Ukraine's sovereignty, but, of course, we cannot react positively to such remarks by President Vladimir Zelensky."

This follows the Ukrainian leader's controversial statement that he did not recognize Russians and Ukrainians as one people.

Zelensky argued that if it had been otherwise, most probably the yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flag would have been flying over the State Duma's building on Okhotny Ryad Street.

The Kremlin spokesman rushed to comment of the Ukrainian president's words.

"I find it hard to even somehow analyze the reasons, why such words were pronounced," he said. "On the other hand, possibly, they were taken out of the context. I cannot rule this out. Sounds strange."

Moreover, he mentioned that the phrases "one people" and "fraternal people," which Russian President Vladimir Putin recently used in relation to the two countries as well as the two peoples were synonyms.

"We are one people but two different states. This is absolutely so. It is a reality that we exist in," he noted. "Naturally, each country is absolutely sovereign, but there is one people".