Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will not consider his country victorious in its 16-month war with Russia so long as Moscow holds Crimea.

“We cannot imagine Ukraine without Crimea. And while Crimea is under the Russian occupation, it means only one thing: war is not over yet,” Zelensky, 45, told CNN in an interview over the weekend.

When pressed on whether he thought there could be a scenario of “victory and peace” in which Crimea is not part of Ukraine, the onetime actor and comedian stated: “There will not be victory there.”

[That’s a tough position to take in terms of what the outcomes might be. Unless Ukraine can start moving the Kherson line, Zelensky won’t be in position to deliver on that promise. But it’s also likely necessary to keep morale on the line as high as possible. — Ed]