Zelensky: We will be returning Crimea by any means without consulting with other countries

He said this at a press conference, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We will be returning Crimea by any means, because this is our territory. We will decide on our own, without consulting with any other country in the world," Zelensky said.

He said that "Ukraine does not strike the civilian population on the territory of another state and on the territory of Ukraine, but temporarily occupied territory."

"We know what we are doing. We know where military facilities or warehouses are located in the temporarily occupied territories. The Ukrainian military can work there according to the plan," he added.

When asked whether Crimea can return to Ukraine's control politically and diplomatically or with military assistance, Zelensky said: "We do not choose which way we will put an end to this issue."

"Last year, the situation was different. There was no all-out war between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine has constantly shown that we are ready for diplomacy, we want it, we don't want people to die. [...] We tried to do it for three years [...] but you see how it all ended," Zelensky said.