Putin loses legitimacy, shadow government needs to be created in Russia - former Russian MP Ponomarev

He said this on Espreso TV.

"The path to victory for Ukraine is simple: arms supplies, financial assistance, and increased support from the West, but we see some fatigue in the US and Europe. Currently, Ukraine has many problems with the latest aid package from the United States. That is why we need to raise the issue of political changes in Russia. At the Munich Security Conference, President Zelenskyy frankly said that we should not abandon the idea of overthrowing the Russian government, we should not be afraid of this topic," Ponomarev recalled.

According to the Russian opposition politician, it is necessary to create a new Russian government because Putin is losing his legitimacy in the so-called elections to be held on March 17, 2024.

"Even under Russian law, he will cease to exist as the president of Russia. This is what we need to talk about. We also need to answer other questions: if Putin is not legitimate, then who is? It is necessary to create a shadow government that will be understandable to Russian elites and Russian society as an alternative government. So that people can make a conscious choice," Ponomarev emphasized.

• On February 20, EU spokesman Peter Stano said in Brussels that the EU would not recognize the results of Putin's sham presidential election in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.