Ukraine capable of holding contact line – US Secretary of State

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed confidence that Ukrainian troops are capable of effectively holding the contact line in their country's east.

Source: Blinken in an interview with CBS News, commenting on Russian offensives in Kharkiv Oblast; European Pravda

Details: He said that there was no doubt that the months-long delay in approving additional funding and sending weapons to Ukraine from the US "had a cost".

Quote: "So we're doing everything we can to rush this assistance out there. Europeans are doing the same. Look, I'm convinced that Ukraine can effectively hold the line in the east."

Details: The US secretary of state also expressed confidence that Kyiv is able to continue to press the advantages it achieved in the Black Sea, "feeding the world" as it did before Russia's large-scale invasion, and "hold Russian forces at risk, including in Crimea to make it more difficult for them to continue this aggression."

Quote: "We've been providing the systems to do that, but it's a challenging moment. We are not going anywhere, and neither are more than some 50 countries that are supporting Ukraine. That will continue and if Putin thinks he can outlast Ukraine, outlast its supporters, he's wrong."

Background:

• Earlier, the White House said that Russian forces would continue to advance in their new offensive in the northern Kharkiv region, but did not expect "major breakthroughs".

• On 10 May, it was reported that Russian forces had intensified their activities in Kharkiv Oblast, with fighting taking place there.

• Ukraine's Defence Ministry said that reserve units had been sent to the north of Kharkiv Oblast

• Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on 12 May that the Ukrainian army was aware of Russia’s plans and was responding effectively to Russian operations, but said the situation in Kharkiv Oblast was "getting more complicated".

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