Top Russian lawmaker blames Zelensky for putting Ukraine into debt

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has made his country bankrupt and deprived its citizens of a future, a top Russian lawmaker said on Monday.

Vyacheslav Volodin, Russian State Duma Speaker, wrote on his Telegram channel, "Today, Kiev is spending more than half of its revenues, or 57.9%, on debt servicing, this is why it is forced to ask for new loans. Ukraine is a bankrupt state."

However, Kiev is seeking to hush up the issue, he added. "But the problem is obvious. Zelensky has deprived Ukrainian nationals of a future, and put the country into debt," the top Russian lawmaker charged.

These, he said, are the consequences of a February 2014 coup in Ukraine that "translated into a complete loss of Ukraine’s sovereignty." Foreign loans already account for almost 40% of the country’s budget, and next year, external financing will increase to 58%, Volodin said.

"Ukraine is unable to meet its expenditure to pay wages, pensions or to pay for other public services on its own. And the situation is worsening," the State Duma speaker added.