Ukraine’s Crimea may be deprived
of its autonomous status after it is liberated from Russian military occupation,
Presidential Office advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Argument program on
the UNIAN news channel on May 8.
"Obviously, having gained autonomy, you subconsciously consider yourself to be better than other regions. For a unitary state, autonomy is a dangerous path, a path of conflict at the regional level," Podolyak said.
Podolyak emphasized the need to respect the rights of all minorities, meaning the Crimean Tatars who "have deserved (all) Ukrainians' sympathy."
Ukraine will regain control of Crimea without fighting, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said earlier.
However, an option for a military offensive to restore government control of the Ukrainian territory is still being considered, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has said.