Military expert announced the actual terms of the return of the Crimea and Donbas

A former employee of the armed forces believes that the return of the occupied territories will be possible not earlier than 5 years.

Full cessation of hostilities in the East of Ukraine – a more achievable goal than the reintegration of occupied territories of Donbass and Crimea; for the achievement of the second objective may require about 5 years. This opinion was expressed by the former Deputy chief of staff armed forces of Ukraine, General-Lieutenant Igor Romanenko.

“I share the question of peace and the return of the occupied territories under the control of Ukraine”, – he stressed.

“In the first place – peace, but the restoration of control over the occupied territories is a longer process. Donbas – 5 years”, – said Romanenko.

In this context, he recalled that the number of expected events – the introduction of the peacekeeping mission in the Donbass and the elections in this region require considerable time and numerous coordinated decisions. So, “we insist on elections on the basis of Ukrainian legislation, will have to have peacekeepers and is for three years. Then there can be assigned to international administration, and more. There will be different options, but this way is difficult and long.”

According to the General, “to cease hostilities is achievable faster”, but further steps will inevitably face difficulties, in particular because the Russian side would like to hold elections in the occupied territories immediately after the end of hostilities, Ukrainian – first of all, to regain control over the border.

“Crimea with the prospect of more distant,” acknowledged Romanenko. “There are different options, ranging from demilitarization to international control, then the elections and so on. But still for us in the first place, an important loss of Russian control”, – he stressed.

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