Ukraine gives Russia two options: Leave Crimea peacefully or be ready for battle

[sl8]

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-russia-crimea-war-peace-volodymyr-zelenskyy/

Ukraine gives Russia two options: Leave Crimea peacefully or be ready for battle

Ukrainian officials clarify their stance on Crimea negotiations with Russia.

BY VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA
APRIL 6, 2023 3:51 PM CET
3 MINUTES READ

KYIV — Ukraine has not changed its plans for the return of territory occupied by Russia, including Crimea.

“Ukraine will choose the way to bring Crimea back, using political and military means,” Tamila Tasheva, the Ukrainian president’s envoy on Crimea, told POLITICO.

“To minimize Ukrainian military losses, minimize threats to civilians who live in occupied territories, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure, Ukraine plans to give Russia a choice on how to leave Crimea. If they don’t agree to leave voluntarily, Ukraine will continue to liberate its land by military means,” Tasheva added.

Her comments come after Andriy Sybiha, deputy head of the president’s office, gave an interview to the Financial Times in which he said Ukraine might be ready to discuss the future of Crimea with Moscow if Kyiv succeeds in achieving its strategic goals on the battlefield.

[...]

[stopdiggin]

1. Well, that sounds - pretty staunch

(also pretty optimistic, from a lot of outside perspective)
Guess we'll see.

[Igel]

7. They have to be.

I'm pleased at the clarification or at least spin.

Last week's comment was mostly cited as evidence that Ukraine was softening, maybe they'd bargain away Crimea for peace.

The last bit allows for discussing not basing non-Ukr NATO naval forces in Crimea, which seems reasonable.

[The Jungle 1]

2. Blow up the bridge!

I so want to see that thing go down.

[niyad]

3. Slava Ukraini! Thank you for the update.

[Tommy Carcetti]

4. I'm surprised they're not going for the city of Donetsk first.

They’ve literally had their front lines just a mile or two outside of Donetsk for years, even before the full scale invasion.

Maybe they’re worried about civilian casualties (which Russian troops most definitely aren’t.)

[Amishman]

6. They've played the misdirection game before

When everyone was focused on Kherson, including Russia, Ukraine pulled off the brilliant breakthrough at the Kharkiv front and handed Russia a humiliating loss.

The Kherson offensive obviously did happen and was successful - but it was used as a decoy first.

[raging moderate]

5. Winston Churchill told Hitler in a speech: "We will never give up."

Last edited Tue Apr 11, 2023, 10:48 AM - Edit history (1)

When it looked as though the Nazis would win World War II, Churchill gave a speech in which he sent a message to the Nazis: "We will fight on the beaches. We will fight in the hills. We will fight in the streets. We will never give up."

SLAVA UKRAINI!