Russian war against Ukraine began with Crimea and must end with Crimea - Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared the statement in his evening address on August 9.

"This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea - its liberation. Today it is impossible to say when this will happen. But we are constantly adding the necessary components to the formula for the liberation of Crimea," he said.

In addition, Zelenskyy announced that he was preparing a summit on the work of the Crimean Platform — a key diplomatic platform for work on the liberation of Crimea.

The Crimean theme sounds on all international platforms where the Russian war in Ukraine is discussed. The president also noted that the history of global non-reaction to Russia's seizure of Crimea is now one of the best arguments for strengthening sanctions against Russia.

 "The world is beginning to recognize that it made a mistake in 2014 when it decided not to respond with full force to Russia's first aggressive steps," he said.

Also, Zelenskyy raised the issue of the struggle for rights and historical justice for the indigenous peoples of Ukraine — the Crimean Tatar people, Karaites and Krymchaks.

"Our state is native to the peoples whose national cultures and aspirations were formed in Crimea. Therefore, when we work for the liberation of the peninsula, we fight for the restoration of the territorial integrity of our state and for the return of the home to the indigenous peoples of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

He also added that the work of the Crimean Platform this year will be no less weighty and representative than last year, when its first summit was held in Kyiv.  The format will be different, but the value will be greater.