Andriy Sybiha, deputy head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, said Ukraine was willing to discuss the future of Crimea with Russia if Ukrainian troops reached the border with Russia-occupied Crimea, the Financial Times reported. The remarks were Ukraine’s clearest statement of its intentions to negotiate since it broke off peace talks with the Kremlin last April.
“If we can successfully achieve our strategic goals on the battlefield, and when we are about to enter the administrative border with Crimea, we are ready to discuss this issue through diplomatic means,” Sibihar said. Sibiha was referring to Kiev’s long-planned counteroffensive, but added, “That doesn’t mean we rule out retaking (Crimea) with the military.”
Sibihar’s comments are likely to assuage concerns among Western officials who are skeptical about Ukraine’s ability to retake the peninsula and fear any military attempt could lead to an escalation of the conflict.
So far, Zelensky has ruled out peace talks until the withdrawal of Russian forces from all of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.
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