Putin's strategic misstep: West Bolsters Ukraine's counterattack
6:17 AM EDT, June 9, 2024
Western arms deliveries to Ukraine will limit the capabilities of the Russian army. The advantage is dwindling, and Putin's time to achieve a breakthrough on the front is running out, Bloomberg assesses. The plan to create a buffer zone along the border is collapsing.
Russian forces have made only marginal progress since capturing the strategic city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine in February, and time is running out to break through the front, Bloomberg reports. Ukraine, which is once again receiving weapons and ammunition from Western allies, will gain the ability to counterattack. The window of opportunity is shrinking.
More countries have agreed to allow their equipment to destroy targets within Russia as well. Additionally, G7 leaders will meet next week in Italy to consider plans to lend Ukraine funds using extraordinary profits from about $280 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets.
Putin did not use the time effectively
The agency adds that the Russian attempt to open a new front in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region already seems ineffective and is preventing the army from achieving a strategic objective.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian forces have failed to make progress in the Kharkiv region.
"The Russians have failed to carry out the Kharkiv operation; we are holding them off as much as possible and eliminating Russian units entering our territory and terrorizing the Kharkiv region. The front in the Kharkiv area has been strengthened and will be further reinforced," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video recording on Saturday.
Zelensky added that the situation in the Donetsk region "is currently the most difficult" and that "efforts are being made to bolster Ukrainian forces with reserves."
The Ukrainian president expressed gratitude to the United States and France for "new solutions" for Ukrainian forces, thanks to talks and meetings in which he participated in France, including those concerning the production of 6-inch artillery ammunition in Ukraine.
