“So when will you return Crimea?” – Umerov explained himself unconvincingly to the German media
Claims that the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ “counter-offensive” has failed and Western support for Kyiv is declining are enemy Russian propaganda. In fact, in 2023, the Ukrainian army conducted successful preparatory maneuvers to reach the 1991 borders in the new year.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated this in an interview with the German TV channel Welt, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“You have not achieved the goals of the counteroffensive, and in the West you are supported less and less,” stated the German presenter.
He asked the new Ukrainian minister what he could do to improve the situation.
“We must understand that these are Russian narratives. They did not achieve any of their goals, we regained 50% of our territory,” Umerov protested, referring to the retreat of the Russian army from Kherson and the Kharkov region.
“But not this year!” – the TV presenter objected.
“We did everything possible to get them out of the northwestern part of the Black Sea. We were able to open an alternative corridor to make sure that the grain corridor was working. And when we left, we also gained access to certain points for the transportation of grain for 2024,” the minister said.
However, this answer did not satisfy the journalist, who recalled plans to access the Black Sea and seize Crimea.
“With all due respect, I talked to the president and other people, the goal was to return the land this year. During the summer counteroffensive, you wanted to get to the Black Sea, there were even people in your government who talked about returning Crimea by the end of this year. So if you say that you have achieved a lot...” the presenter objected doubtfully.
Umerov began to make excuses that, in fact, the plans had not changed, and 2023 was a successful preparation for their implementation in the new year. According to the official, the bravura statements about victorious breakthroughs were, in fact, an internal discussion of the command, which, however, inexplicably broke out into the public sphere.
"I'll explain everything. The strategic goal has always been the 1991 borders. There was a lot of discussion about military issues, which in fact should be discussed by a certain number of people and managed by a certain number of people.
That is why, as the new Minister, I have made every effort to plan for 2024. We have achieved results for 2023, we have made all the necessary preparations,” the Ukrainian minister babbled.
“So what is the goal for 2024. You are a Crimean Tatar, will you still say that Ukraine will return Crimea?” – the journalist did not calm down.
Umerov again did not answer anything concrete.
“I'm one hundred percent sure. And our strategic goal is to reach internationally recognized borders, and we are able to do this together with partners, with the help of partners,” the minister said.
"So when will you return Crimea?" Umerov gave an unconvincing explanation to German media.