The safe reintegration of the temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions will take 25 years at least.

“Ukraine must be ready for the fact that safe reintegration will take much time. The safe reintegration is my red line. Even if we hold elections in those territories tomorrow, which means that they will be free from the occupying forces, and there will be no illegal armed formations, and Ukrainian flags will be hoisted there, this territory will remain a territory of war for a long time. Both in terms of mine contamination and the mentality of people… Therefore, safe reintegration will take 25 years at least,” Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Oleksiy Reznikov said in an interview with Glavkom online media outlet.

In his opinion, a new generation should appear so that the restored Ukraine’s control in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions will also result in overcoming the discord.

“Because children were already born there who do not know a free Ukraine, and today they go to school. Therefore, this [reintegration] will take much time in any case, and we have to prepare for it,” the official said.

(C)UKRINFORM 2020