Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said that Criimea is part of Ukraine,and that Russia’s invasion of the country will end through liberation of the territory. 

"This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea – with its liberation," the Ukrainian president said.

“Russia brought large-scale repression, environmental problems, economic hopelessness and war to Crimea. Historians will probably one day determine how many people died as a result of Russia's use of Crimea for terror. tens of thousands? hundreds of thousands? From Ukraine and Georgia to Syria and further afield. The presence of Russian occupiers in Crimea is a threat to the whole of Europe and global stability. The Black Sea region cannot be safe while Crimea is occupied," Zelensky said.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February. 

Hostilities have been in progress since then.