Zelensky hosts Ukraine's first state iftar, vows to ‘recapture’ Crimea | World News

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday criticised Russia’s treatment of the Muslim-minority Tatar group in Kremlin-controlled Crimea and vowed to recapture the peninsula from Russia all through a main official state iftar.

Russia wrested administration of the Black Sea territory from Ukraine in 2014 and pushed through a referendum on the annexation that was condemned as fraudulent and illegitimate by Ukraine and its Western allies.

Moreover be taught: Ukraine’s Zelensky on Bucha anniversary: ‘Gained’t ever forgive Russia’

“Russia’s attempt to enslave Ukraine … began exactly with the occupation of Crimea, exactly with repressions in direction of Crimean, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar freedom and of Crimean Muslims,” he suggested Ukrainian Muslim leaders and ambassadors from Muslim nations.

The Tatar group, which accounted for 12-15 p.c of the two million Crimea residents, largely boycotted the 2014 vote.

Moscow then banned the Mejlis — the conventional assembly of the Tatar Muslim minority in Crimea — declaring it an extremist organisation and has jailed members of the group since, citing questions of safety.

“There isn't any such factor as a special for Ukraine, or for the world, except for the de-occupation of Crimea. We're going to return to Crimea,” Zelensky acknowledged, sooner than handing out awards to plenty of Muslim Ukrainian servicemen.

Zelensky, speaking at a mosque open air the centre of the capital, launched that Ukraine was beginning a model new customized of web internet hosting an official iftar, the meal breaking the daily fast in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan.

“Ukraine is grateful to the Muslims of our nation and to everyone inside the Muslim group of the world who, like us, longs for peace and security from evil,” he added.

Moreover be taught: Zelensky ‘ready’ to fulfill Xi Jinping, invites Chinese language language chief to go to Ukraine

Quite a lot of Muslim-majority nations, along with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have positioned themselves as mediators inside the battle in Ukraine, brokering agreements between Kyiv and Moscow on grain exports or prisoner exchanges.

Russia has an enormous Muslim minority from southern areas, along with Chechnya and Dagestan, a variety of whom are combating for Moscow in Ukraine.