Mr. Zelensky: Ukraine's counterattack plan `was leaked to Russia` 0
(Dan Tri) – President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that Russia was aware of Ukraine’s counteroffensive plan for the summer of 2023 but did not give specific details.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference in Kiev on February 25 (Photo: AFP).
`Our counter-offensive action plan was on the Kremlin’s table before the counter-offensive actions began,` Mr. Zelensky said at a press conference on February 26 in Kiev.
The Office of the President of Ukraine later confirmed to AFP that Mr. Zelensky was referring to Moscow’s activities to collect information about sensitive military plans.
For the above reason, Mr. Zelensky said that Kiev will prepare `several` versions of the battlefield strategy for 2024 to avoid recurrence of leaks.
`We have a plan, a clear plan. Several plans will be prepared because of the risk of information leaks,` he replied when asked if Ukraine planned to carry out another counterattack this year.
After the West provided billions of dollars in weapons to Ukraine, the 2023 counterattack is expected to help Kiev regain much territory controlled by Moscow.
After capturing the frontline town of Avdiivka in February, Russian forces have pushed back across eastern Ukraine, taking advantage of ammunition and manpower.
President Vladimir Putin said last week that Russian troops would advance deeper into Ukraine to continue their success at Avdiivka.
Meanwhile, Ukraine encountered difficulties and had to retreat to a defensive position amid a deadlock in aid from Washington in the US Congress.
Also at the press conference, President Zelensky said that Ukraine’s victory `depends` on Western support.
`Whether Ukraine will lose, whether it will cause difficulties for us, and whether there will be a large number of casualties depends on you, on our partners, on the western world.
`There is still hope in the US Congress and I am sure that there will be positive developments from there. Otherwise, I don’t understand the world we will start living in,` Mr. Zelensky said.
When asked by CNN about the statement of US Senator J.D.
“To understand that, we have to go to the front lines to see what’s going on, talk to the people, then go to the people to understand… what will happen to them without this aid.
President Zelensky also warned that Russia is preparing a new attack against the country starting at the end of May or summer 2024.
`I believe we will be ready for their attack. Their attack that began on October 8, 2023 has not yielded any results, I believe. For our part, we will be prepared.`
The Ukrainian president emphasized that troop rotation will be extremely important for Ukraine’s fighting.
