“The enemy is unsuccessful”
Putin talks down Ukrainian counteroffensive
07/16/2023 3:41 p.m
While Ukraine continues to make strenuous efforts to supply western fighter jets and other weapon systems, Russian President Putin has given a positive assessment of the situation of his troops in the fighting in the neighboring country. Ukrainian attempts to break through failed “during the entire period of the offensive”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Ukrainian counter-offensive launched in June as unsuccessful. All “enemy attempts” to break through the Russian defenses were unsuccessful “throughout the period of the offensive,” Putin told Rossiya-1 TV channel. “The enemy has not succeeded.” The situation at the front is “positive” for the Russian armed forces.
Russian troops behaved “heroically,” Putin said. “Unexpectedly for the opponent” “they even went on the offensive in some sectors and conquer more advantageous positions”. On Friday, the head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, admitted that the Ukrainian counter-offensive was “not progressing as quickly” as hoped.
Ukraine remains stubborn on arms demands
On Sunday, the Ukrainian general staff reported attacks from the south of the country towards the Russian-held cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk. On Tuesday, Moscow spoke of a Russian breakthrough of one and a half kilometers on a section of the front near Lyman in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
Former world boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko recently appealed to the Germans not to let up in their support for Ukraine, even if Russia’s war of aggression was to continue for a long time. “We don’t know how long it will take. Please support us, please don’t become weak,” Klitschko said in a joint interview with Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for several Springer media.
In the interview, the brother of Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko emphatically contradicted the view expressed by politicians from NATO countries that Ukraine had got everything it needed for the counteroffensive: “That’s not true. We didn’t get everything we need.” , according to Klitschko. His country quickly needs fighter jets and helicopters to protect itself against kamikaze drones and missiles, but also on the front lines.