They have the same first name and are both presidents, but the differences between, among others, the Russian and Ukrainian heads of state became clear again on Tuesday – day 300 of the war.
Volodimir Zelensky (44) traveled to Bakhmut – the “hottest point” of the fighting. During this visit, which was not without its dangers, he honored the soldiers with decorations and encouraged them to continue to defend the fiercely fought city.
Vladimir Putin (70), on the other hand, welcomed the Moscow-appointed governors of the annexed Ukrainian regions and TV propagandists in the Kremlin. He had awarded them medals “for their outstanding services in defending the rights and freedoms of the civilian population against the aggression of Ukrainian nationalists”.
Putin 1999: “Kill terrorists in the toilet”
Among them was Putin’s top propagandist and Russia Today boss Margarita Simonyan (42). In her acceptance speech, she chose extremely drastic words. “I have worked under your leadership for many years and I have always wanted to say to you: thank you for killing the cannibals,” she told the Kremlin boss.
In 1999, Putin – then Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – commented on the second Chechen war at a press conference in Astana (Kazakhstan). “We will chase terrorists everywhere. If they’re at the airport, then at the airport. If we catch them – excuse me – in the toilet, we’ll kill them there.”
In her speech, Simonyan recalled Putin’s “promise” more than 20 years ago. “Twenty years ago you saved our Caucasus from being torn apart. They didn’t allow the inter-ethnic slaughter,” she said, even praising him for political decisions in Georgia’s war in 2008, when Dmitry Medvedev, 57, was officially president.
“Thank you for not letting Abkhazia and Ossetia be devoured by crazed cannibals in 2008.”
“We Will Help You”
She also did not ignore the current conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Thank you for preventing the recent carnage in Karabakh. And of course I thank you…” begins Simonyan, before a nervous stutter.
“Normally I’m not nervous when I speak in front of an audience, but seeing what happens every day in Donetsk, I can’t keep calm and worry. Thank you for pulling our people out of the bloodied mouths of those cannibals . That you decided to do it!”
The city of Donetsk, which has been under separatist control for eight years, has come under repeated attack. As a result, three floors of a hospital collapsed on Tuesday. The Ukrainian army is held responsible for the attack.
Simonian vows to continue to support Putin on his warpath. “We will help you take out the cannibals as long as you ask us to. I serve Russia.” (Human)