Zelenskyy assumes possibility of return of Crimea by non-military means

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country is determined to regain all the lost territories despite Russia's increasingly frequent missile strikes. He said that if possible, he would not oppose the return of Crimea in a non-military way.

"I understand that everyone is confused about the situation and what will happen to Crimea. If someone is ready to offer us a way to de-occupy Crimea in a non-military way, I will only be in favour. If the solution does not involve de-occupation and Crimea is part of the Russian Federation, no one should waste their time on this. This is a waste of time," Zelenskyy said in a conversation with The Financial Times.

He admitted that the fate of the peninsula is on the international agenda. Some Western partners are concerned that any attempt by Ukraine to retake Crimea could lead to a dangerous escalation by Moscow, possibly even the use of nuclear weapons, the newspaper said.

"We have to take back all the land... Because I believe the battlefield is the way to go when there is no diplomacy. If you can't get your land back completely, the war turns out to be frozen," the head of state said.

The Financial Times notes that since last month Moscow has stepped up its bombardment of Ukraine's vital infrastructure, hoping, according to the newspaper, to force Kyiv to make concessions. At the moment, after the November 23 missile attack in Ukraine, there are serious problems with the electricity supply in almost all regions.