Without Resolving“Crimea Issue,” War Will End In Frozen Conflict, Not Peace Expert

RunWithRugs · 2026-02-28T22:08:36+00:00

International relations expert Yuliia Biletska emphasizes that resolving the Crimea issue is vital for achieving lasting peace in Ukraine. She warns against illusions of peace created by agreements with Russia and advocates for a strong stance against Russian aggression.

RunWithRugs

2026-02-28 22:08:36

Abstract generation in progress

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) This was stated by international relations expert and specialist in Ukrainian–Turkish relations Yuliia Biletska, an associate professor at the Department of International Relations of Karabük University, during a panel discussion in Ankara marking the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“This war will not be truly resolved without resolving the Crimea issue. It is impossible to speak of a ‘stable peace’ without clarifying the status of Crimea. Without untangling the Crimean knot, the war will merely turn into a frozen conflict,” Biletska said.

She emphasized that any agreements with the aggressor reached without Ukraine would only create an illusion of peace, while real peace is possible only by weakening the Kremlin’s belief that it can act with impunity.

“The occupation in 2014 was the first stage of today’s war. At the time, this aggression was not taken seriously enough. There was an assumption that ‘perhaps it would remain limited.’ However, a revisionist power, if not stopped, does not retreat – it grows bolder. And that is exactly what happened. After Crimea came Donbas. After Donbas came the full-scale war,” Biletska recalled.

The expert stressed that unless Russia realizes it cannot achieve its goals through military force, no negotiations will have real meaning. She also warned Türkiye and other countries against indulging Russian propaganda and aggression promoted through Kremlin-backed“non-aggressive” platforms such as sports, culture, and music, as well as against facilitating Russia’s attempts to legitimize the war on various international platforms.

** Read also:** International ** Crimea** Platform reaffirms commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity

As reported by Ukrinform, another round of talks concluded on Thursday in Geneva. The discussions were held in two formats – separately with the U.S. side and in a trilateral meeting involving the United States and Switzerland. The next round of peace talks is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi in early March.

MENAFN27022026000193011044ID1110800939

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.