“Zelensky must admit for himself that it is impossible to return Crimea for his cadence, and no longer fool himself,” RIA Novosti quoted Gritsenko as saying.
He noted that Crimea will not return in the coming decades.
Gritsenko also stressed that the "Russian spirit" reigns in the territory of Donbass.
“According to polls, more than 80% want to go to Russia,” the ex-minister said.
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum was held there in March 2014 - the majority of residents favored reunification with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that the Crimea issue is closed for Russia, and the referendum on the peninsula was held in strict accordance with international law.