Zelensky tells how Ukraine plans to return Crimea
21 November 2024 07:43
Ukraine does not currently have enough forces to return the 1991 borders by military means. However, Kyiv is ready to return Crimea diplomatically. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Fox News, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Zelensky said that Ukraine cannot legally recognize any occupied territory as Russian.
“We are talking about the territories that were occupied by Putin before the full-scale invasion in 2014. Legally, we do not recognize this. We do not accept it. On the other hand, we realize that we do not yet have the strength to throw Putin back to the 1991 line with arms,” the President explained.
According to him, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has made it clear that he does not want to return Crimea to Ukraine under any circumstances.
“Are you ready to give up Crimea for the sake of a peace agreement that will end this war and stop the bloodshed in Ukraine? I have already mentioned that we are ready to return Crimea through diplomatic means. We cannot spend tens of thousands of our people dying for the sake of returning Crimea,” the President added.
The Head of State understands that Ukraine will be able to return Crimea only through diplomatic means.
As a reminder, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that Crimea plays a crucial role in the issue of possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Therefore, one of the options for resolving the issue of the peninsula may be to place it under a UN mandate and hold a referendum there in 20 years.
