KYIV (Reuters) – Russian forces are gearing up for a fresh assault against Ukrainian defenders towards the end of May or in the summer, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy mentioned at a two-hour press conference on Sunday that it is essential for Kyiv and its Western allies to stay united, as he foresees two challenging months ahead and anticipates another Russian attack.
Zelenskiy stated, “Russia will prepare counteroffensive actions at the start of summer or end of May. If they are able to. They will prepare,” during the press conference in Kyiv. He mentioned, “We will prepare for their assault. Their assault that began on Oct. 8 has not brought any results, I believe. We, for our part, will prepare our plan and follow it.”
Ukraine commemorated the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Saturday, while Moscow’s troops continue to advance along a vast front line and face challenges such as shortages of artillery shells and a lack of fresh manpower. Zelenskiy revealed that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since February 2022, marking the first official toll in over a year.
He expressed confidence that the U.S. Congress would approve a significant amount of new military and financial assistance to Ukraine, stating that the decision needs to be made within a month. Zelenskiy emphasized that the success of Ukraine’s war effort hinges on Western support, highlighting that the European Union has only provided 30% of the 1 million ammunition shells promised.
Russia made substantial gains on the battlefield this month by capturing the town of Avdiivka, from which Ukrainian troops withdrew to avoid being encircled. Zelenskiy stressed the urgency of receiving support within a month and expressed optimism about the possibility of long-range missiles being supplied to Kyiv by its allies.
‘THERE IS A PLAN’ – Zelenskiy affirmed that Kyiv has a clear plan to confront Russian forces, but he refrained from disclosing details that could jeopardize it. He stated, “There is a plan, the plan is clear, I can’t tell you the details,” underscoring the strategic secrecy surrounding their military tactics.
Kyiv’s forces conducted a highly-publicized counteroffensive last year, but were unable to break through Russia’s defensive lines. Zelenskiy explained that the recent replacement of his popular armed forces chief was part of a military strategy that would remain confidential. He previously mentioned that Kyiv’s plans for the counteroffensive last year were leaked to the Kremlin, but did not elaborate on how.
Zelenskiy mentioned plans for a summit in Switzerland this spring to engage in peace discussions with allies, indicating that the peace proposal would be presented to Russia at a later stage. He stated, “I hope it will take place this spring. We must not lose this diplomatic initiative,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining a diplomatic dialogue.
BATTLEFIELD LOSSES – Zelenskiy highlighted the critical importance of troop rotations and emphasized the need for better preparation of reserve forces for the ongoing war effort. He mentioned the significant loss of 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the war and dismissed inflated figures provided by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskiy refrained from disclosing the number of wounded, citing concerns about aiding Russian war planners.
The Russian foreign ministry promptly refuted the estimate of Ukrainian military losses as false. (Additional reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Ros Russell)
