When Russia first invaded Ukraine and Moscow soldiers entered Crimea in 2014, Ukraine’s foreign partners were asking Crimean authorities not to "provoke Russia," Chairman of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis told Euronews, rejecting Donald Trump’s claims that Ukraine didn't fight for it and "handed over to Russia without a shot being fired" instead.
“All of our partners and allies at the time said that we should not provoke Russia, that they, together with the Ukrainian state, would definitely find forms and ways to resolve this crisis. I am quoting what they told me when I was in the occupied Crimea,” Refat Chubarov said.