In his column for the American Conservative, he urged the West not to treat Crimeans like a war booty.
“Western countries are criticizing governments that vehemently resist secession… and fail to approve the Ukrainian military campaign to retake Crimea… Without popular support, Kyiv cannot justify the destruction of Crimea,” Bandow wrote.
The former Reagan aide also recalled that the majority of the inhabitants of the peninsula supported the secession of Crimea from Ukraine and its entry into Russia.
According to Bandow, the Western world lacks evidence of the desire of the inhabitants of the peninsula to return.
He also noted that Zelensky's intentions threaten to seriously escalate, as attempts to invade Crimea will lead to a big conflict in which Western countries will be involved.
“Who knows, maybe next time he (Zelensky. -
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) will request the material and technical resources necessary to capture Moscow and the collapse of the Russian Federation.
But the United States is not obliged to support this plan, ”Bandow concluded.
Earlier, Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of Volodymyr Zelensky's office, called on "residents of the occupied territories", including the Crimean peninsula, to prepare for the "upcoming de-occupation" of the regions.
The head of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, commenting on this appeal, advised the Ukrainian authorities to prepare evacuation routes for themselves.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov recalled that Crimea is an integral part of Russia, and claims to Russian territory will receive a proper response.
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which the majority of the inhabitants of the peninsula spoke in favor of reunification with Russia.