Ukraine could end war on its own terms, says Zelenskyy, pointing to key moment
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
Ukraine can end the war on its own terms. But Ukrainians must fight, according to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his address on the occasion of the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol.
"A lot has changed since February 26, 2014, and everyone is aware of the course of these enormous changes. We can end this war on our Ukrainian terms. We can return our land and people from the occupation. We can bring Russia to justice for what it has done. But for this to happen, we must fight," he says.
The President reminds that today we recall the events that took place 10 years ago - in Ukrainian Crimea, when our peninsula was stolen by Russia.
"And when, along with the Russian army of occupation, our Crimea was invaded by humiliation and abuse of people, repression and fear. This cruel war, which is now being waged against Ukraine, was spawned by Russian revanchism precisely when it felt that the world could turn a blind eye to such crimes, such annexations, such abuse of people whose homes are simply taken away," Zelenskyy says.
The Head of State emphasizes that wars end in true justice when the evil that gave rise to them is extinguished.
"And that is why a sense of justice and a pursuit of peace must go hand in hand. This requires, in particular, not forgetting about Crimea. Fighting for Crimea. Resisting the evil that Russia brought to Crimea and then tried to spread throughout Ukraine and wants to extend to the lands of other nations," he continues.
Zelenskyy adds that Ukraine must increase its real counteraction to Russian evil, "at all levels, all over the world."
"We must fight for the people in Crimea and in all other occupied parts of Ukraine. We must fight for the full restoration of international law in relation to Crimea, and therefore, any other land. We must fight for the fundamental right of the Crimean Tatar people, just like any other people, to live in their own home," he continues.
Zelenskyy notes that winning in each of these points "means quelling Russian revanchism, that is, actually ending the war."
"I am grateful to everyone who does not forget about Crimea, who helps our efforts regarding Crimea. Who helps our warriors. Who fights in Crimea against the occupiers. Who does not give up their souls to Russian evil. Who helps to free people who have been repressed by the Russian regime, who supports these people and preserves their faith – faith in justice, in its power, in Ukraine. The return of all our captives, the return of all those deported from Ukraine, the return of Crimean political prisoners is our absolute priority. And I am grateful to all the countries that help us with this," he summarizes.
Zelenskyy on Crimea
The temporarily occupied Crimea was seized by Russia in 2014. In October 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian-occupied Crimea would probably be easier to de-occupy than Donbas. It is not only about liberating the territories but also about the mental return of people to Ukraine.
In particular, even though Ukrainian troops have not yet been able to return to the Russian-occupied Crimea under our state's control, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have already achieved some results in liberating the peninsula.
At the same time, the National Security and Defense Council is already developing a plan that will be used to de-occupy Ukrainian Crimea. It includes 12 steps.
