Russia Has Closed All Avenues for Negotiations Over Crimea, Says Crimean Tatar Leader

People’s deputy of Ukraine and leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev, in an interview with Ukrinform media, said that the Russians refused all possible negotiations regarding the future of Crimea.

Therefore, there is only one way – to liberate the peninsula by military means.

“When compatriots from Crimea call me and ask how things are, what are the prospects, I say that, most likely, there will be a forced liberation. I say that we will shoot, particularly at military bases in Crimea,” Dzhemilev said.

He explained this position by the fact that during the negotiations between the representatives of Ukraine and Russia after the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian side defended the position that the aggressor should withdraw to the border by Feb. 24, 2022. The future of Crimea and Donbas was proposed to be decided through negotiations.

“But almost immediately, a statement was made by Putin’s spokesman Peskov that the issue of Crimea will not be discussed.”

In a recent interview with the Kyiv Post, Crimean Tatar activist and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova opined that the return of Crimea to Ukraine can be done both diplomatically and militarily.