Weapons of Western partners will help Ukraine seize back Russian-occupied territory, including Crimea and Donbas.
Source: Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov
“We are going to liberate all our territories, all of it all, including Crimea. Crimea is a strategic objective for Ukraine because it’s Ukrainian territory. But we will move step by step.”
The first step would be the stabilization of the situation on the ground to prevent further losses against Russian forces. The second stage, he said, is to push Russian forces back to their positions before the invasion on February 24.
Only in the 3rd stage, he said, there would be discussions with Ukraine’s partners on “how to liberate territories, including Crimea.”
Asked whether an attempt to return the occupied Crimea by military means could further provoke Russia – Reznikov replied that was not a consideration.
“It doesn’t matter. Because they [Russians] will see that in Kherson, they will see it in Zaporizhzhia, they will also see it in Mariupol…. but these are Ukrainian lands, and Crimea is also Ukrainian land, no matter what.”
