US President Joe Biden told allies that US support for Ukraine will continue despite Republicans blocking a new aid package for Kiev in Congress. However, White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby warned, “time is not our friend.” And he warned that there is currently money to help Ukraine on the battlefield for “a few more months,” but the situation needs to be unblocked in Congress.
On the day that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited troops on the eastern front, Biden spoke with several allies. On the phone were the leaders of the European Union and NATO, as well as the heads of government of the G7 countries (in the French case, the head of diplomacy, Catherine Colonna), and the presidents of Poland and Romania. “Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to support Ukraine for as long as necessary while defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while other leaders endorsed these commitments,” the White House call report said.
“The leaders discussed efforts to provide Ukraine with the ammunition and weapons systems it needs to defend its territory against Russian aggression, strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and protect its critical infrastructure from Russian air attacks now and in the coming months. this winter”he added.
Zelensky, meanwhile, was at the front in the Kupiansk-Lyman region. In a statement shared on social media, the president said yes “in one of the hottest areasand that he had discussed “the operational situation on the battlefield, current problems and needs with brigade and battalion commanders.” Kupyansk and surrounding areas were recaptured by Kiev’s forces in September 2022, but in recent months the Russians resumed fighting pressure, forcing the Ukrainians to order the civilians to withdraw.
One of the top Ukrainian generals, Oleksander Tarnavsky, indicated on Telegram that Kiev’s forces are advancing in the south. This progress translated into at least 261 enemy casualties, he said. However, the Kremlin continues to say that the Ukrainian army’s attempts to penetrate Russian forces have failed. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Russian officials that “the enemy’s attempts to break through our defenses in the Verbovoye and Rabotino areas on the Zaporizhia front have failed.”
The expected Ukrainian counter-offensive, which began in June, had few concrete results, despite Kiev’s forces receiving Western tanks and training. However, the weapons arrived after the Russians managed to strengthen their defense lines using mines and digging trenches, complicating the advance. It is expected that the approaching winter, when the use of tanks will be even more difficult due to the conditions on the ground, will further hamper the Ukrainian armed forces. With agencies
Source: DN
