Zelenskyy emphasizes diplomatic approach to reclaim Crimea, rejects military solution

Crimea, which was seized by Russia in 2014, can only be returned to Ukraine through diplomatic means, rather than military action, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

• Diplomatic approach: In a Fox News interview, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine cannot afford the significant loss of life that would be required to reclaim Crimea through force. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s position that it cannot legally recognize any Russian-occupied territory as part of Russia.

• Military vs diplomacy: Although Ukraine remains committed to its territorial claims, Zelenskyy acknowledged that the country is open to regaining Crimea through diplomatic efforts. “We cannot afford to lose tens of thousands of our people … and even then, it is not certain that we can reclaim Crimea through military force,” he said. “We believe that Crimea can be brought back through diplomacy.”

• Historical context: Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after a popular uprising ousted Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, leading to the seizure of territory in eastern Ukraine by Russian-backed forces. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Moscow has occupied about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, though it does not fully control any of the annexed regions.

• Security and NATO: Zelenskyy’s recent peace proposals focus on the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory, along with security guarantees for Ukraine and potential membership in NATO—proposals that Moscow has firmly rejected.

Zelenskyy’s diplomatic push

Zelenskyy’s push for a diplomatic resolution to Crimea underscores Ukraine’s determination to reclaim its territory while navigating the complexities of ongoing conflict and international diplomacy.