Ukraine continues to inflict “heavy losses” on Russia after some of the “most intense” fighting since the start of the war in February 2022, Atlantic Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday.
“The Ukrainians were able to inflict heavy losses on the Russian invaders, both in terms of soldiers and combat capabilities,” Stoltenberg said at a news conference, adding that these military losses occurred over the last few weeks.
Since kyiv launched its counter-offensive in the spring, no decisive breakthrough has been achieved by Ukrainian forces, and some allied countries are concerned.
But, for the head of NATO, “although the front line has not moved”, the Ukrainian forces continued to be very effective on the battlefield.
“We have to differentiate between the fact that the front line is not moving significantly and the fact that very, very intense fighting is taking place,” he explained.
Ukraine continues to fight “courageously” and “we continue to support them”, he stressed, adding that in November, Germany and the Netherlands had, for example, granted aid of ten billion euros to Kiev, and that the Allies, including the United States, were sending more anti-aircraft defense systems to protect the populations.
kyiv also claims to have regained its position a few weeks ago on the left bank of the Dnieper River, in the south of the country.
The anchoring of Ukrainian positions on this side of the Dnieper, confirmed by specialist Russian bloggers as well as military experts, could constitute the biggest push by the Ukrainian army in several months.
Asked about the risk that Kiev would find itself forced to negotiate with Moscow in the event of a reduction in Western military support, Mr. Stoltenberg reaffirmed that it was up to Ukraine “to decide what is acceptable to end the war” .
“Our responsibility is to support Ukraine and allow them to liberate as much territory as possible and put them in the best possible situation, when or if the negotiations begin,” he insisted.
