Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview with Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which was published on Saturday, that Ukraine is prepared to start its long-awaited counteroffensive to regain the land that Russia has captured. He conceded that Kyiv might suffer significant losses in the process.
In an interview published on Saturday, Zelensky stated that he did not know how long the counteroffensive would take and indicated concerns about Moscow’s air supremacy. “It can go a variety of ways, but we are going to do it, and we are ready,” he told the paper. “We strongly believe that we will succeed.”
Overview
Last month, Zelensky stated that Ukraine would wait for additional Western armoured vehicles before mounting a counteroffensive. He has been on a diplomatic campaign to retain Western backing, seeking additional military assistance and weaponry, crucial for Ukraine’s plans to succeed.
Zelensky told the WSJ, “We would like to have some things, but we can’t wait for months. We really believe in success, I don’t know how much time we really need.” While the President did not specify what Ukraine was waiting for, he did emphasise Russia’s air superiority over Ukraine. “The lack of protection from enemy aircraft means that many soldiers will die during the counteroffensive.”
⚡️President Volodymyr #Zelensky has stated that Ukraine is ready for #counteroffensive
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) June 3, 2023
“I believe that today we are ready to do it,” Zelensky said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
“We would like to have certain things, but we can’t wait for months. We strongly… pic.twitter.com/hRRkc1CmvE
More nations have joined the fighter jet coalition to speed up the training of the Ukrainian military on F-16s and other fourth-generation fighter jets, but the delivery date remains uncertain.
Zelensky urged Western allies to support Ukraine by isolating Russia as much as possible, including by prohibiting visas, as anticipation of the Ukrainian counteroffensive increases.
The Ukrainian President emphasised that when it comes to choosing sides, “It’s not Ukraine or Russia.” “Choose values, and support the country, whose values are closest to you.” he added. Zelensky persuaded democratic countries in the EU and NATO to side with the values they believe in and stand for.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian soldiers are “stronger and more motivated” than Russian forces. “There is no place for weakness,” he said.
Ukraine is ready to launch a counteroffensive against Russia but fears large casualties due to Moscow's superior air power, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday. "A large number of soldiers will die" if Kyiv is not given the weapons, he said.https://t.co/a31SB3oUxz pic.twitter.com/7zzsSgKaU4
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 3, 2023
The Ukrainian President also discussed the efficiency of the US-made Patriot missile against Moscow’s hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, which Russian President Vladimir Putin previously described as “undefeatable.” “There’s currently one weapon capable of stopping some types of missiles launched by the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said. “The reality is 50 Patriots will, for the most part, prevent people from dying.”
On NATO Membership
Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine could not join NATO until the end of the Russian invasion. In the past months, the Ukrainian President has increased pressure on NATO and the EU to widen its horizons and include Ukraine.
“We are reasonable people and we understand that we are not going to drag a single NATO country into a war,” Zelensky said. “Therefore, we understand that we will not be members of NATO while this war is going on. Not because we don’t want to, but because it’s impossible,” he added.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year galvanised NATO, but the military alliance remains divided on its stance on Ukraine’s accession. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that all countries have agreed to uphold a 2008 pledge that Ukraine will become a member at some undefined time.
Regarding the July NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Ukrainian leader said “there is no point” in Kyiv attending unless the alliance offers an invitation for membership or gives “some kind of signal.”
A prolonged period of dry weather in various regions of Ukraine has increased speculation that a counteroffensive seems imminent. Ukraine has recently widened its attacks on Russian ammunition storage and logistics routes.
In a daily report on Saturday, Ukraine’s military stated that Mariinka, in the eastern Donetsk area, was the focal point of fights. According to the report, the Ukrainian military repelled all 14 Russian army strikes there.