Photo BGNES, archive
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a meeting with students from the city of Mykolaiv that liberating Crimea will be easier because there is no fighting there, and with the de-occupation of Donbas it will be “mentally more complicated” because of the decade-long presence of Russia in the region, the militarization of this territory and separatism, TV “Nowadays Vremya” reported.
In his opinion, Ukraine will regain the territories of Crimea and Donbas faster, but the return of people will be delayed. “Our partners told me – it will be almost impossible to get Crimea back and it will be very complicated for Donbass. And I think that if we talk about the people, and the territories are returned with the population and if the people don’t want it – it will become very complicated.” says Zelensky and adds that the process of returning “Donbass is complicated mentally”. As an example of the sharp opposition of the residents of the Russian-occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Zelensky gives the tenacity with which they fight on the front against the Ukrainian army.
“Even when Russia is at war with us, the separatists don’t surrender, they stand, and the Russians run. That’s what I mean when I tell you that they will resist. And there is no fighting in Crimea, so I think that Crimea is waiting for us to come back. And Donbas is waiting, but it will be very complicated, because a large part of this territory was occupied and maximally militarized,” says Zelensky.
In November 2022, the Ukrainian sociological group “Rating” polled Ukrainians on what, in their opinion, could be considered a victory over Russia. Then 85% answered that Ukraine should fight until it frees the occupied territories, including Crimea and Donbass. 9% believe that Ukraine can continue without Crimea and Donbas, and 4% believe that after the liberation of the Ukrainian territories, the Ukrainian army should move to Russian territory.
In 2014, Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and began hostilities in Dobnas. International organizations did not recognize the annexation of Crimea and condemned Russia’s actions, and Western countries subjected it to sanctions. The Kremlin defines the annexation as “restoration of historical justice”, writes BGNES.
In February 2022, the authorities in Russia recognized the so-called DPR and LPR, after which Russian troops started a full-scale war in Ukraine, which has been going on for 640 days.
Working on the post:
2023-11-30 19:52:00
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