Well, he is at least speaking for himself, likely has a good idea of what friends and family think so you can take it as a datapoint.

And I would put more stock in that than in someone who isn't Russian.

ofc the fact that I'm Russian don't make me think that my opinion is true, and yet I strongly don't like when someone describes the opinions and thinking of all Russians without exception, sometimes don't even trying to study and understand the roots of the problem between our countries.