Croatia's president has criticised Western countries for supplying Ukraine with heavy tanks and said it would only prolong the war.

Zoran Milanović told reporters in Zagreb on January 30, the Associated Press reports.

Milanović said it was "crazy" to believe Russia could be defeated in a conventional war. He also said he thinks the temporarily occupied Crimea will never be part of Ukraine again.

The Croatian president said, "from 2014 to 2022, we are seeing someone provoking Russia to start this war."

"What is the purpose of this war? A war against a nuclear power that is fighting in another country? Is there a conventional way to defeat such a country? Who pays the price? Europe. America pays the least. Not a single American tank will go to Ukraine in a year. Only German tanks will be sent there," Milanović said. 

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković reacted to the president's positions, saying they "directly harm Croatia's foreign policy position."

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said that Ukraine considers the Croatian president's statements unacceptable and instead highly appreciates and thanks the Croatian government and people for supporting Ukrainians in the fight against Russian aggression.

As a reminder, in December, the Croatian Parliament rejected the government's proposal to join the EU mission to train the Ukrainian military. Croatian President Zoran Milanović refused to sign the proposal and stated it did not comply with the country's constitution. Milanović is in favour of Croatia providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid only.