"It began with Crimea, it will end with Crimea" Zelenskyy vows to retake occupied peninsula

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that Kyiv's forces will retake Russian-occupied Crimea, as the leader and his top officials seek to build international support for full restoration of the country's pre-2014 borders and reversal of all Russian gains.

Zelensky spoke at the second iteration of the Crimea Platform on August 23, an online gathering of 60 nations and international organizations, per Newsweek. Speakers included Polish President Andrzej Duda—who attended in person with Zelensky; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"Ukraine is strong enough and powerful enough to see a perspective for Ukrainian Crimea," Zelensky said. "We will bring freedom to Ukrainian citizens in Crimea, and we will restore justice to all those who suffered from the repressions and abuses of the Russian occupiers."

"I know that Crimea is with Ukraine, [and] is waiting for us to return. I want all of you to know that we will return. We need to win the fight against Russian aggression. Therefore, we need to free Crimea from occupation. It began with Crimea, it will end with Crimea," Zelensky said of Ukraine's war with Russia, quoting jailed Crimean activist Nariman Dzhelyal.