President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an exclusive interview with BBC, has stated that Ukraine requires more time to launch a much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces as its military awaits the delivery of promised military aid.
Speaking from his headquarters in Kyiv, Zelensky stated that combat brigades, which were trained by NATO countries, were “prepared” for the counteroffensive.
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However, he acknowledged that there were still gaps in the army’s capabilities, such as the need for armored vehicles, which were “being delivered in stages.”
Zelensky believes that the anticipated assault could play a pivotal role in this war by altering the front lines that have been static for several months.
This counterattack, according to Ukraine’s President, will serve as a critical assessment for Ukraine, keen to demonstrate that the weapons and equipment it received from the West, and can lead to substantial gains on the battlefield.
“When and where the Ukrainian push, supported by Western-supplied weapons and equipment, will happen is a secret. Russian forces, meanwhile, have fortified their defenses along a frontline that runs for 900 miles (1,450km) from the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk to Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south,” Zelensky stated.
Zelensky also expressed confidence that the Ukrainian military could advance, warning of the risks of a “frozen conflict,” which, he said, was what Russia was “counting on.”
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As the Ukrainian military awaits promised military aid, authorities have attempted to temper expectations of a counteroffensive against Russian forces.
According to a senior government official speaking anonymously to BBC, the country’s leaders acknowledge the need for success but caution against viewing the forthcoming attack as a panacea in a protracted conflict that has lasted for nearly 15 months.
In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, on Wednesday, May 10, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba cautioned against viewing the upcoming counteroffensive as the final one.
“Don’t consider this counteroffensive as the last one because we don’t know what will come of it,” he stated.
Kuleba also emphasized that if Ukraine fails to succeed in this counteroffensive, it must prepare for the next one. On the other hand, if the Armed Forces of Ukraine do succeed and liberate their territories, then it will be considered the last counteroffensive.
At the same time, according to Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, multiple options are still available for conducting a counteroffensive, and the ultimate decision on which course of action to take will depend on the current circumstances.
Speaking on a national telethon on Tuesday, May 9, Danilov noted that the final plan for the counteroffensive would be approved by President Zelensky, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
He cautioned against having overly high expectations for this counteroffensive.
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