Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, won’t ever once more be a part of Ukraine: Croatian President

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, whereas detailing his objection to the capital metropolis Zagreb offering army support to Kyiv, mentioned Crimea won’t ever once more be a part of Ukraine.

Sarajevo,UPDATED: Feb 1, 2023 07:34 IST

FILE PHOTO: Croatian President Zoran Milanovic attends a NATO summit in Madrid (Reuters)

By Reuters: Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, won’t ever once more be a part of Ukraine, Croatian President Zoran Milanovic mentioned on Monday in remarks detailing his objection to Zagreb offering army support to Kyiv.

In December, Croatian lawmakers rejected a proposal that the nation be part of a European Union mission in assist of the Ukrainian army, reflecting deep divisions between Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

A vocal critic of Western coverage in Ukraine, Milanovic has mentioned he doesn’t need his nation, the EU’s latest member state, to face what he has referred to as doubtlessly disastrous penalties over the 11-month-old struggle in Ukraine.

What the West is doing about Ukraine “is deeply immoral because there is no solution (to the war),” Milanovic informed reporters throughout a go to to army barracks within the japanese city of Petrinja, referring to Western army assist for Kyiv.

He added that the arrival of German tanks in Ukraine would solely serve to drive Russia nearer to China.

“It is clear that Crimea will never again be part of Ukraine,” Milanovic added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has vowed to revive Ukrainian rule over Crimea, seized and annexed by Russia in 2014, in a transfer not recognised by most different international locations.

Russia says a referendum held after Russian forces seized the peninsula confirmed Crimeans genuinely wish to be a part of Russia. The referendum is just not recognised by most international locations.

Milanovic criticised Western international locations for utilizing double requirements in worldwide politics, saying Russia would invoke what he referred to as the worldwide group’s “annexation of Kosovo” as an excuse for taking components of Ukraine.

Milanovic was referring to Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008 following a 1998-1999 struggle wherein NATO international locations bombed rump-Yugoslavia, comprising Serbia and Montenegro, to guard Albanian-majority Kosovo.

“We recognised Kosovo against the will of a state (Serbia) to which Kosovo belonged,” he mentioned, cautioning that he was not questioning Kosovo’s independence however the idea of Western double requirements.

Milanovic, a Croatian former premier from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has embraced an anti-EU stance since he took the largely ceremonial job of president, aligning his insurance policies with these of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Bosnian Serb secessionist chief Milorad Dodik.

Published On:

Feb 1, 2023