09:27 19.09.2024

Polish FM considers Crimea issue to be key among conditions for possible peace between Ukraine, Russia

1 min read
Polish FM considers Crimea issue to be key among conditions for possible peace between Ukraine, Russia
Photo: PAP

Crimea is of key importance if the conditions for peace between Ukraine and Russia are to be discussed, this personal opinion was expressed by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski at a nightcap discussion at the 20th annual YES meeting in Kyiv, recently organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

"Crimea is symbolically important for Russia, and particularly for Putin, but strategically crucial for Ukraine. So I don't see how they can reach a deal without Crimea being demilitarized," Sikorski said.

He believes that if both countries want it, a solution could be found here.

"We could put it under a UN mandate with a mission to prepare a fair referendum after having verified who are the rightful inhabitants and all that... And we could kick it down the road by 20 years," Sikorski suggested one of the options.

The Polish minister also expressed the opinion that it was a big mistake for the West, including the Americans, to tell the Ukrainians not to fight in Crimea. "If the Ukrainians fought in Crimea, even symbolically, he might not have dared to do Donbas," Sikorski said.

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