President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has expressed his concerns about the slow progress of the counteroffensive due to the delay in receiving promised weapons and ammunition from the United States and other Western nations.
During an interview with CNN, Mr. Zelensky stated that Ukraine wanted to start the military campaign earlier but had to wait for advanced weaponry.
He expressed gratitude to the U.S. and European leaders for their support but emphasized the need for all the necessary weapons and matériel to expedite the counteroffensive.
According to Mr. Zelensky, starting the counteroffensive later would result in slower progress.
The slow advancement has been a common observation from allies and pro-Russian military bloggers, attributing it to extensive Russian defenses.
Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged the deliberate and steady advance of Ukrainian troops.
He stated that the slower pace of the counteroffensive was not surprising, considering the challenging nature of the conflict.
General Milley emphasized that the fight for Ukrainian soldiers was a matter of life and involved navigating minefields and trenches.
Ukraine has yet to deploy its reserves, including troops trained in Europe and equipped with weaponry from NATO countries, which would further strengthen their forces.
During the CNN interview, Mr. Zelensky appealed for more advanced weapons, including American-made F-16 fighter jets, highlighting the need to protect Ukrainian soldiers from Russian long-range weapons.
Eric Schmitt and Andrew E. Kramer contributed reporting.
2023-07-06 01:03:03
Source from www.nytimes.com
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