Ukraine’s costly counteroffensive must produce results before NATO summit – Zelenskyy
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Ukraine's partners expect rapid success in the counteroffensive before the July NATO summit in Vilnius, but every meter of liberated territory comes at a high cost, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Spanish media, as reported by broadcaster RTVE on June 30.
Read also: Ukraine should receive invitation to join NATO at July summit – former Secretary-General
"We must show results before the (NATO) summit (on July 11-12), but every meter comes at a cost of lives," said Zelenskyy.
The president revealed that the plans for Ukraine's counteroffensive have been slowed down in recent months due to heavy rains. He called on partners to continue supporting Ukraine with weapons. Zelenskyy noted that during the autumn 2022 counteroffensive, "with respect to our allies," the supply of artillery was “too late.”
"We had to stop because we couldn't advance; advancing would have meant losing more people, and we didn't have artillery," he emphasized, reiterating that Ukraine values the lives of its troops above all.
Earlier on June 30, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi said he is “irked” when people complain about the counteroffensive being “slower than expected,” reminding that "every meter liberated by Ukrainian forces is paid for with blood."
"This is not a show for the whole world to watch and bet on, or something like that; every day, every meter is paid for with blood," Zaluzhnyi said in an interview with The Washington Post.
Read also: Russia planning attacks in Kharkiv Oblast, says deputy defense minister Malyar
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar previously said that the Defense Forces have seized strategic initiative along the eastern front and are “confidently advancing” on the flanks around Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, as well as making progress in southern Ukraine.
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
