Kiev, July 3 (IANS): Ukraine will eventually regain control of Crimea, the east European country's newly-appointed Defence Minister Valery Geletei said Thursday.
"I am certain Ukraine will be victorious. Believe me, the victory parade will be held in Ukrainian Sevastopol," Xinhua quoted Geletei as saying in a meeting at the country's parliament, the Supreme Rada.
The Ukrainian parliament Thursday appointed Geletei as defence minister after his candidacy was submitted by President Petro Poroshenko for deliberation.
Geletei, who vowed to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity, replaced acting defence minister Mikhail Koval, who held that post since March 25.
On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty to integrate Crimea and its city of Sevastopol into Russia, following a referendum which found that a large majority of Crimeans supported the affiliation.
However, Ukraine and major Western countries have not recognised the affiliation.