Donbass can be returned in the next five years, but the situation with the Crimea is much more difficult, as the return of the peninsula will take more time.
That was what Ivan Aparshyn the adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky on security and defense told in an interview to "Apostrophe".
"But I do not see today the possibility to return our territories by military means. I can plan a military operation. I know people who can fulfill it. We can perform any calculations up to calibers. But I would not advise anyone to consider the possibility of returning our territories through military operations. The losses will be enormous. To date, this is a missed chance of 2014," he said.
At the same time, the expert noted that no one can guarantee Ukraine a victory in the event of a military operation.
"As soon as we start doing this, our partners, who now support Ukraine, will turn away from us. They understand what there can be a prospect. But how can we ensure the return of these territories? I understand that going to Moscow today and negotiating directly with President Vladimir Putin is an absolutely losing situation. It is impossible to speak directly with him, so we must still ask for help from our partners. I would do everything to ensure that the United States are involved in this process. This is the position of a powerful player who is listened to. The position of Great Britain is very close to me. I would have begun negotiations on the peacekeeping forces, on their access to the border between Ukraine and Russia," Aparshyn said.
Read the full text of the interview read in the material of "Apostrophe": “I can plan a military operation to return Crimea and Donbass - Ivan Aparshyn”.