Zelensky: Crimea has become source of danger for entire Black Sea region

He said this in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, according to the website of the head of state.

"The capture of Crimea has changed a lot in the life of Europe - even if not all Europeans are aware of the changes that have taken place. The occupied Crimea has become a source of danger for the entire Black Sea region," Zelensky said.

Zelensky stressed that before 2014, there was no political repression or religious persecution in Crimea, no large-scale environmental catastrophes, and no threat of the deployment of nuclear weapons.

"All this is there now - because of Russian occupation. Moreover, Moscow's behavior may inspire other countries to seize part of the territory from their neighbors," he added.

On March 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the strategy for de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

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