12 minutes agoBlinken: Ukraine has regained 50 percent of Moscow's territory
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ukraine has regained half of the territory Russia had initially taken control of since the aggression began, but that Kiev faces a very difficult <x0 battle” to ensure further retake. “Already provided about 50% of the territory that was first seized,” said Mr. Blinken [...]
“Already provided about 50% of the territory that was originally taken,” said Mr. Blinken in an interview for CNN on Sunday.
“are still relatively early days of counterensive. It's difficult,” said, adding that it's not about a week or two, but for months.
Late last month, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was quoted as saying that the anti-offensive progress against Russian forces was the slower “from the”.
Ukraine has recovered several villages in the south and its territory around the ruined town of Bakhmu in the east, but has not noted major progress against the heavily fortified Russian front.
Asked whether Ukraine would get US-made F-16s, Blinken said he believed so.
It is important to make sure that when they receive, they are properly trained, able to maintain aircraft and use them properly. ”
An 11-nation coalition will begin training Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter aircraft in August in Denmark, and a training centre will be established in Romania.
Ukraine has long sought F-16 aircraft produced by Lockheed Martin, but US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said last month there was no final decision to send them from Washington.
American officials have estimated that it takes at least 18 months for training and delivery of aircraft.
The United States has given Ukraine more than $41 billion in military assistance since Russia's aggression began in February 2022.
