President Yushchenko Addresses his TV Audiences as "Ukrainians"

Question

Unlike earlier presidents of Ukraine who called all people in Ukraine as just "people of Ukraine", Yushchenko addresses his TV audiences as "Ukraintzy" -Ukrainians -when he makes his State of the Nation address.

Now,what does he mean by that?

1) Does he only address ethnic Ukrainians because in most countries in the region, only people of the local 'blood' can be called by the name of the country- for example, ethnic Russians and Poles who are Ukrainian citizens are still seen as Russian and Poles in censuses even if hey have lived in the country for many decades and were born there.

2) Does he actually mean that all Ukrainian citizens should now be called "Ukrainians"?

I would like to know.

Answer 1

He is referring to the citizens of Ukraine.

It is no different than the US President doing his State of the Union addresses, starting with "My fellow Americans".