According to Reuters, Ukraine has advanced missile systems and the US recently promised to win the war.
Ukraine claimed it had captured a large part of the factory city in Sievierodonetsk that was the focal point of a Russian offensive to seize the eastern Donbas region. It also stated that its troops could stay there for as long as two weeks. On Friday, Sergiy Gaidai (governor of Luhansk) stated that Ukrainian troops had retaken the 20% territory they lost in Sievierodonetsk. He said that it was not realistic to expect the city to fall within the next two weeks, even though Russian reinforcements were being deployed.
“As soon we have enough Western long-range weapons, we’ll push their artillery out of our positions. Gaidai said that the Russian infantry will run once they have enough long-range weapons.
The claim that he claimed Ukrainian advances could not be confirmed immediately. Reuters reached Sievierodonetsk Thursday to confirm that Ukrainians still own a part of the city.
Friday marked the 100th anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, millions of people have been displaced from their homes, and the global economy has been disrupted by the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin denied Friday that Moscow had prevented Ukrainian ports from exporting grains, and blamed rising food prices on the West.
On national television, he stated that Russia is now trying to take responsibility for the events in the global food market and the emerging problems in the market.
He stated that the best solution was for Western sanctions to be lifted on Russia’s ally Belarus and for Ukraine to export grain through this country.
Ukrainian officials believe that advanced missile systems are a key component of the United States and Britain’s recent pledges to win the war. Ukrainian troops have begun training for them.
While Putin has been forced to reduce his immediate goal of conquering the entire Donbas, Ukrainian officials stated that he is still determined to subdue the country.
“Putin’s primary goal is to destroy Ukraine.” He won’t stop working for his goals, even though Ukraine won the first phase of the full-scale war,” Hanna Malyar, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister, said to national television.
A spokesman for the Russian government stated that “certain results” have been achieved in the war, and that Moscow will continue its military operations until all goals have been met.