Ukrainian forces may enter the temporarily occupied Crimea by the end of December this year, and by spring the war with Russia will be over, Deputy Defense Minister Volodymyr Havrilov voiced this forecast in an interview with Sky News, writes Liga.net.

He considers the probability of a nuclear strike by Russia low. "Yeah, it would be drama," Havrilov said, but noted that this will not stop Ukraine from resisting the occupiers.

As for the prospect of peace talks with the Kremlin, Deputy Oleksii Reznikov said they will take place only after Russian troops are ready to leave all of Ukraine, including Crimea.

"There is a decision inside the society in Ukraine that we are going up to the end," he said. "And everybody knows that any delay or frozen conflict is only the continuation of this war against the existence of Ukraine as a nation," he added.

Asked whether the liberation of Kherson makes other goals, such as the return of Crimea, more likely, Havrilov said: "It's only a matter of time and, of course, we would like to make it sooner than later." In his view, this could be helped by what is known as a "black swan"-something unpredictable, such as a sudden collapse of the regime of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

According to the deputy head of the Defense Ministry, there is "also a military option as well with some kind of combination of forces, resources and something else." "We can step in Crimea, for example, by the end of December. Possible, possible. Not excluded that it be so," he added.

Havrilov noted that the Russians are interested in a pause in the war to regroup. "That's why... we have no right to stop. We have to advance," he said.

As for ending the war, Havrilov said it is important to be prepared for a long battle if Russia can get reinforcements. "Of course, in this case, the war will take some time. But my feeling is that by the end of the spring, this war will be over."