Ukraine should do everything possible to counteract the narrative that the spring counter-offensive is the “decisive battle” in the war.
Source: Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Kuleba in an interview Financial Time
Direct speech: “We must in every possible way counteract the perception of the counteroffensive as the decisive battle in the war.”
Details: According to Kuleba, quoted by the FT, the narrative of a decisive battle is dangerous, because in case of failure, those in the West who pushed Ukraine to compromise with Russia will strengthen their positions.
He added that the war is a series of battles, and if the spring counteroffensive is perceived as decisive, but does not lead to “100% liberation of Ukrainian territory”, then “some may say that this was the last decisive battle, and now we need to think about alternative scenario.
The head of the Foreign Ministry stressed that there is no alternative to the full restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
What preceded this:
- Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that the Ukrainian General Staff is planning a counteroffensive in several directions, but it all depends on weather conditions. Reznikov believes that this will happen in April-May.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could not yet launch a counteroffensive, which was planned for the spring, because there are not enough weapons now.
- The Deputy Minister of Defense urges Ukrainians not to ask the military when the counteroffensive will take place, so as not to interfere with their work.
