We Understand That Crimea Can Be Brought Back Diplomatically, Says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated that Ukraine cannot recognize any Russian occupation of its territories as legal, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to restoring its borders through diplomacy.

The remarks came in interview with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, ahead of the Pentagon’s announcement of a $275 million military assistance package for Ukraine.

When asked about the possibility of ceding land as part of a peace deal, Zelenskyy firmly stated, “We cannot legally acknowledge any occupied territory of Ukraine as Russian. That is about those territories… occupied by Putin before the full-scale invasion, since 2014. Legally, we are not acknowledging that, we are not adopting that.”

On the question of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s preference for a diplomatic resolution.

He remarked, “We cannot spend dozens of thousands of our people so that they perish for the sake of Crimea coming back. We understand that Crimea can be brought back diplomatically.” Addressing Ukraine’s broader military efforts, he added, “At this moment, we do not have enough strength to reach the 1991 borders with weapons in hand.”

The interview coincided with the Pentagon’s announcement of additional military support under the Presidential Drawdown Authority.

According to the Department of Defense, this latest package includes munitions for rocket systems and artillery, as well as anti-tank weapons, addressing Ukraine’s most urgent defense needs.

This assistance marks the 70th tranche of military aid from US Department of Defense inventories since August 2021, part of the Biden administration’s ongoing commitment to bolster Ukraine’s security and defense capabilities.

While Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine would continue its fight even without US support, he noted the critical importance of continued military funding, stating that without it, Ukraine’s chances of success would be significantly diminished.