No peace without liberation of Crimea, Zelenskyy says
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo:president.gov.ua)
Peace for Ukraine won’t come without the liberation of Crimea, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the BBC on Feb. 23.
The president recalled that until Feb. 24, 2022, the Ukrainian authorities along with the entire “civilized world,” wanted to follow a diplomatic path and made attempts to liberate occupied Ukrainian territories without the use of force.
“...to freeze it. Freeze the war. The conflict. But there was no ceasefire, although we had a truce – for a month, or two months, then again (the conflict would flare up),” said Zelenskyy.
“That’s how it was until the 24th (of Februry, 2022). It was a big mistake to sign such a document, the Minsk agreements.”
Now, Zelenskyy stressed, Russia must withdraw form the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine.
“I believe that no (there will be no peace without Crimea),” he said. “There will be no proper peace for Ukraine, Ukrainians, Europe, the world.”
Earlier, Ukrainian Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that Russia will eventually be forced to withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in August 2022 that Russia’s war against Ukraine should end with the liberation of Crimea – just as it began with its occupation.
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