Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian retaliation is ‘about to gain momentum’

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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted his military’s counteroffensive against Russian forces was “gaining momentum”, as he sought to reassure Western governments that have become concerned over the operation’s slow progress.

The weeks-long effort to push Russian forces back into Ukraine began later than Kiev had expected, Zelensky said, due to insufficient munitions, weapons and properly trained brigades, which gave Russia time to lay mines and build defensive lines.

But the momentum on the front was about to change, Zelensky said, reiterating his call on allies to supply more long-range missiles and advanced fighters.

“We are getting closer to the moment when relevant action can pick up speed because we are already passing through some minefields and we are destroying these areas,” he said.

The Ukrainian leader was speaking via video to international security leaders at the four-day Aspen Security Forum, where the pace of Ukraine’s counteroffensive to push back Russian forces in eastern and southern Ukraine dominated the discussion.

Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told Zelensky that the progress of the countermeasures was “the question on everyone’s mind here” and “the preoccupation of all your friends in the world”.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told an audience in Colorado that the consequences of Ukraine’s military effort would be clear only after Kiev fully committed its forces.

Sullivan said, “It’s the moment they make that commitment that we’ll really see what the results of the retaliatory strike will be.”

Ukraine’s emphasis on ensuring the supply of advanced fighters for retaliation was misplaced, as strong Ukrainian and Russian air defenses prevented air power from playing a significant role in the conflict, Sullivan said.

“The view of our military commanders is that given the fundamental reality, the assumption is that the F-16s will play a decisive role in this retaliatory strike. , , They have a different point of view from what you hear from some Ukrainian voices, ”he said.

While officials publicly projected an optimistic view of Ukraine’s military progress, in private many were less optimistic.

“The bad news is that Ukrainians are heading for a winter of discontent,” said Philip Zelicko, a history professor at the University of Virginia and a former diplomat. He pointed to the dire economic impact of the war and the huge cost already borne by the US and other allies to keep Kiev’s government afloat.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told the Financial Times that the mismatch between Ukrainian expectations and Western commitments was understandable as the West had other priorities while Ukraine was the sole focus.

“There will always be a slight difference in approach between the Ukrainian leadership and other countries in terms of what we want to achieve.”

Biden administration officials’ frustration with criticism from Ukraine and other NATO allies about the speed and type of aid being provided by the US was clear.

Senator Jim Rish, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the Biden administration has been too slow to send systems such as main battle tanks and cluster munitions that eventually reach the battlefield.

“I am tired of hearing about tensions rising. Stop talking about increasing stress. If you don’t move, you will lose,” he said. “I want (Vladimir) Putin to wake up in the morning worrying about what he’s going to do that will make things worse for us, rather than wringing our hands.”

Sullivan dismissed what he described as a “caricature” of American decision-making, including the notion that the Biden administration was “sitting around reluctant to provide things because we’re worried about the Russians”.

The “enormous amount” of US aid, Sullivan said, has made it clear that the US is “willing to take risks and we will be willing to take risks” in providing aid to Ukraine.

He also hit back at critics who said worrying about Russian nuclear growth was a sign of weakness.

“It is the responsibility of every member of NATO, including the United States, to think about the Russian response when we choose to do something because it matters for our security, it matters for global stability.”