Putin's own actions bring the liberation of Crimea closer - Yelchenko, former Ukrainian ambassador to UN

Diplomat, former permanent representative of Ukraine to the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko shared the statement on Espresso.

"Today, apart from the military way of liberating Crimea, there are no other options left. We remember how since 2014 we and our Western partners have said that the liberation of Donbas is a short-term prospect, while Crimea is a longer story, because it has, in fact, turned into  a huge military base instead of a resort," he said.

Yelchenko noted that it was clear to everyone that the Kremlin would not give up Crimea just like that.

"With their own hands, Putin and his comrades are bringing the return of Crimea closer, because if this continues, then together with the liberation of the South Ukraine, the question of the liberation of Crimea will arise. Of course, it is up to our military to decide when and how to do it. I think that we  will see this prospect quite soon," the diplomat added.

According to him, everyone is aware that Crimea is the territory of Ukraine and talks about the possibility of strikes on Russian occupiers are unnecessary.

"The whole world heard the statement of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. We need to smoke less and rest there. There is still the Crimean bridge and you can quickly leave there, but in the future it may not be there and it will be more difficult to do so. People who have become "Crimeans" in recent years need to think seriously. There is already information in the mass media that the Russian military is taking their families and relatives out of Crimea. Apparently, they know something that we don't know yet," Yelchenko concluded.