Zelensky assures that Ukraine will continue to fight to recover its territory, including Donbas and Crimea

kyiv, Sep. 19 (DPA/EP) –

The President of Ukraine has assured that the country’s Army will continue to fight to regain sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Donbas regions –Donetsk and Luganks– and the Crimean peninsula.

The head of state has denied that, with the recent advances in the east of the country, the Ukrainian troops have been able to relax. “Perhaps it seems to someone that after a series of victories we have a certain calm,” Zelensky said.

However, the president has asserted that these operations have served as “preparation” for the future stage of counteroffensives that are expected in key cities such as Mariupol, Melitopol or Kherson, currently under Russian control.

At this point, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine must be liberated “in its entirety”, in what can be understood as a direct reference to the Crimean peninsula, in the hands of Russia since 2014, and the Donbas region, whose self-proclaimed authorities are also close to Moscow.

Russia’s first victories during the start of the war, which began at the end of February, were precisely cities in the south and east of Ukraine and it currently controls around a fifth of the Ukrainian territory.