Zelensky promised the allies to speed up the counter-offensive

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assured Western allies that the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will soon enter a new phase. He stated this at the International Security Forum in Aspen, the Financial Times reports.

Zelensky admitted that the last attempt to defend the position in the east of the country began later than planned by Kiev, due to the lack of ammunition, weapons and insufficiently trained brigades. This gave Russia the opportunity to lay mines and create defensive lines in the path of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, the Ukrainian president stressed that the situation at the front would soon change and appealed to the allies to increase the supply of long-range missiles and advanced fighters.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at the forum that the results of Ukraine’s military actions will be clear only after the full involvement of Kiev’s forces. He added that the pressure of the Ukrainian authorities to accelerate the supply of advanced fighters for the counteroffensive is misguided, as strong air defense systems prevent the air force from playing an active role in the conflict.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said he understood the discrepancy between Ukraine’s expectations and the commitments of the West, as each side has its own priorities. “There will always be a difference in the approach of Ukrainian leaders and other countries to what we want to achieve,” he said.