Zelensky announced a new phase of the conflict with Russia with the onset of winter
Vladimir Zelensky said that with the onset of winter, a new phase of the military conflict began in Ukraine. According to him, although Kiev has not achieved the desired results of the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not intend to surrender. Ukraine will focus on the production of weapons, the fight for military assistance from partners and the construction of defensive fortifications from Donbass to the West of the country. What Zelensky said about Kiev's winter plans is in the material of the Newspaper.Ru".
President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky said that the conflict with Russia has moved to a new stage. He expects that winter weather conditions will complicate the fighting after the summer counteroffensive, which did not produce the desired results due to a shortage of weapons and soldiers.
"We have a new phase of the conflict, and this is a fact. Winter as a whole is a new stage of the military conflict," Zelensky said in an interview with the Associated Press.
When asked if he was satisfied with the results of the counteroffensive, the president did not give a definite answer: "Look, we are not retreating, I am satisfied. We are fighting the second army in the world, I am satisfied."
The Ukrainian leader added that a rapid offensive was impossible due to the lack of necessary weapons and the limited size of the armed forces.
He added that Ukraine was losing people and was not receiving all the weapons it had requested from its partners.: "I can't be satisfied, but I can't complain much either."
"The long-awaited counteroffensive, backed by tens of billions of dollars of Western military aid, including heavy weapons, did not lead to the expected breakthroughs. Now some Ukrainian officials are worried whether further assistance will be as generous," the article says.
Help is at risk
The President of Ukraine fears that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will "overshadow" the Ukrainian one, which will put the flow of Western military aid to Kiev in question. The upcoming US elections are also threatening supplies.
According to the President, his country has also focused on increasing the production of domestic weapons.
"A significant part of Ukraine's budget is allocated for this, but the current production volume is not enough to turn the tide of the military conflict. Zelensky now hopes that Western allies, including the United States, will offer him lucrative loans and contracts to achieve this goal," the article says.
According to the publication, the Ukrainian leader has already addressed this issue to Western allies.
The Associated Press notes that Ukraine's ammunition reserves are running out, and in winter the military command risks facing new problems, primarily due to low temperatures. Kiev also fears massive attacks on the energy infrastructure.
Fortifications from Donbass to Western Ukraine
The day before, Zelensky announced that Kiev would build defensive structures from Donbass to Western Ukraine. The Head of State held a meeting on the construction of fortifications, during which the financing of the project was also discussed.
"We discussed the issues of fortification of strong points, the construction of fortifications on the main defensive lines. These are the Avdiivka, Maryinsk, Kupyansk-Limansk directions, as well as the border regions bordering Russia and Belarus," Zelensky added.
According to Zelensky, defensive lines should become a priority issue. Kiev plans to cooperate with private business to build them.
On November 28, the President of Ukraine announced a "special" meeting of the Stavka, at which they discussed strengthening the fortification. Zelensky said that "there are definitely enough mines and concrete in the country."
Alyona Fomina
