During an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he is ready for a counteroffensive, but that "protection is key now", as he seeks additional support from European allies.
"We strongly believe that we will succeed", Zelenskiy told the Wall Street Journal, adding: "I don’t know how long it will take. To be honest, it can go a variety of ways, completely different. But we are going to do it, and we are ready".
"Kyiv hopes a counteroffensive to reclaim territory will change the dynamics of the war that has raged since Russia invaded its smaller neighbor 15 months ago", the Reuters agency reported.
Zelensky said last month Ukraine needed to wait for more Western armored vehicles to arrive before launching the counter-offensive. "He has been on a diplomatic push to maintain Western support, seeking more military aid and weapons, which is key for Ukraine to succeed in its plans. Russia holds swaths of Ukrainian territory in the east", the PAP news agency reported.
There has been a long spell of dry weather in some parts of Ukraine, which has given rise to anticipation that a counteroffensive is on the horizon. Over the past several weeks Ukraine has increased its strikes on Russian ammunition depots and logistical routes.
On Saturday Ukraine's military said in a daily report that, "Mariinka in the Donetsk region in the east was the focus of fighting. Ukrainian forces repelled all 14 Russian troops' attacks there", the report said.
(aj)
SOURCE: Reuters, PAP, IAR,