Part 8/13:
Russia's influence in these secessions was complex: Moscow initially preferred peaceful reintegration and supported the Minsk agreements aimed at granting cultural autonomy to eastern regions. However, the Ukrainian government, particularly under President Zelensky, has been reluctant to accept even limited autonomy. Zelensky, a Russian-speaking Ukrainian from Kryvyi Rih, campaigned on a platform of peace and reunification but has since shifted rhetoric sharply to hostile nationalism, aligning with the far right's influence.