America News Agency

Ukrainian President Zelensky stated within the scope of February 26, the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea, that Russia should not receive any reward for the war, stressing that this is a fundamental security guarantee for lasting peace.

Recalling that Russia’s war against Ukraine began with the occupation of Crimea and that the world turned a blind eye at the time, Zelensky said: “The leaders of that period did not pay sufficient attention to the protests and resistance in Crimea and across Ukraine. The world advised Ukraine to remain silent. This was precisely what made Putin believe that he could launch a much larger war and adopt a more aggressive stance toward the West.”

Zelensky stated that this global lesson is remembered every year on February 26, adding: “We honor those who do not remain silent and do not step back in the face of Russian aggression, and we emphasize that holding the aggressor accountable for the war is one of the strongest security guarantees and one of the strongest prerequisites for lasting peace.”

Zelensky also thanked the countries that keep the issue of Crimea’s occupation on the agenda through the Crimea Platform and other international initiatives, saying: “Crimea is Ukraine and the world must always recognize this fact.”