For six years, not a single effective negotiating platform has been created that would contribute to the return of the peninsula under Ukrainian control, but the current Ukrainian government will work to change this, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the Euronews news channel.
The head of state noted that the situation with Crimea is more complicated than with the Donbas. And he added that he raised the Crimean issue at the Normandy format negotiations, but Russia refused to discuss it.
“But Crimea is our territory, we will return it”,- the President said.
“I say frankly that there is no powerful platform for raising this issue yet. I believe that such a site did not itself exist for six years. In addition to the sanctions, for which I am grateful to our partners and which we discuss with them, and they are being extended. Not only Europe helps us – the USA and other countries are helping. I don't see anything else. Am I going to do something else? Yes”,- he said.
At the same time, Volodymyr Zelensky noted that for him the de-occupation of Crimea is the same priority as the return of the Donbas.
In addition, according to the President of Ukraine, those who allowed the easy surrender of the Crimean peninsula to occupation should be held accountable.
“It was despicable to give Crimea away. This is a big problem. But today we can no longer talk and bite our elbows about how it happened. I am sure that someday everyone responsible for this will be brought to justice. Many people people are to blame for this”,- the head of state emphasized.