Russian State Duma MP Claims Crimea Is Zelensky's Obsession

Mikhail Sheremet believes that the Russian army will never leave Crimea, no matter how hard the Ukrainian government and its Western allies try to force it.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke online at the Ambrosetti International Economic Forum in Italy, saying that the issue of liberating Crimea could be resolved by diplomatic or military means; at the same time, he called on the Russian army to leave the peninsula to avoid casualties.

“The Russian army will never leave Crimea, because it is the force that ensures the security of the peninsula. Thanks to the Russian army, Crimea today has peace, Crimean people have a stable life, children go to school, adults go to work and look forward to a bright future, despite the continuous terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian army with missiles and drones,” Mikhail Sheremet told Ria Novosti.

According to Mr. Sheremet, Crimea has become an obsession for Ukrainian leader Zelensky, because it is a stronghold of the Russian world, and a typical example of how historical territories have returned to their homeland, to the “Motherland”.

“Ukraine needs Crimea because the Kiev government is under pressure from Western leaders who want to place their military bases on the peninsula. President Zelensky has a desire to destroy Crimea, but he will not be able to do it, and will even be punished,” Mikhail Sheremet said.

Earlier in July, Mr. Mikhail Sheremet also stated that Russia's response to a potential attack on targets in Crimea would be so harsh that the Kiev government would never be able to overcome the consequences.