The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, noted that the holding of the national poll on October 25 is an important event, because the introduction of real democracy was one of the points of his pre-election program.
"I'm very interested and the opinion of people is important to me. Because democracy is what I promised in my election program. The draft law on the referendum is ready for the second reading. Therefore, such questions are very important to me personally. I want to feel the people," the head of state said during the interview "Autumn 2020: pobedy y vyzovy" to four Ukrainian TV channels.
Zelensky emphasized that this poll will not have any legal consequences, but the opinion of the citizens will give him as the President of Ukraine an additional argument to initiate the corresponding changes in the legislation.
"I will understand the response of the people and I will talk to the deputies and propose such positions," the Head of State said.
The President drew attention to the fact that such a poll, in contrast to a sociological one, will allow to find out the opinion of as many people as possible.
"What is a sociological survey? This is a selection... The President is making a serious exit poll. I want to get results from millions of people, and the sample is two thousand people," he noted.
The President gave an example that the affirmative answer of the majority of Ukrainians to the question of the legalization of medical cannabis to reduce pain in seriously ill patients can become the main argument for people's deputies to vote for the corresponding changes in the legislation.
"Electorally, they will see that people support it. Then I, as the president, already having sociology, will not be afraid of anything, I will submit this bill and I will know that I have the support of both the Council and the people," he said.
Regarding the subsequent actions of the Ukrainian authorities in the event that the citizens approve the possibility of using the provisions of the Budapest Memorandum to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Zelensky noted that he could not reveal the details yet.
"Today, I am engaged in the task of fully reviving the state of Ukraine - an independent, self-defending state. Therefore, it is not by chance that we have naval bases. It is not by chance that I am signing strategic agreements, which were not even mentioned in the state of Ukraine. I am signing with Great Britain and Turkey. I want to do this with some other countries," he said.
At the same time, the head of state clarified that it is not about the possibility of restoring Ukraine's nuclear potential.
"We are talking about the fact that everyone must fulfill their agreements. Otherwise, you and I will not be "at the table", as they say in European countries, but will constantly be people who ask to give more credit, give a boat, give more body armor, give more masks when we have COVID-19", - noted Volodymyr Zelensky.
And he assured that no funds will be allocated from the state budget for the holding of the national poll on October 25.
"Not at the expense of the state and not at the expense of oligarchic structures. You will see everything. The answer is always either official or in the declaration of the President of Ukraine," Zelensky said.
