NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned never to “underestimate the Russians” as Western countries are providing Ukraine with a significant amount of deadly weaponry.
Stoltenberg said you should not underestimate Russia’s preparations in creating defensive lines as Ukraine are preparing for a large scale counteroffensive.
Speaking to CNN the NATO chief said, “We should never underestimate the Russians.
“The front line has been static for a long time, the Russian forces have been able to build significant defensive lines to counter the planned counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”
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Stoltenberg said that all wars are inherently unpredictable, however Ukraine has already shown the world they can de-occupy territory which was previously under Russian control.
Speaking about the weapons and training the Ukrainians have received from NATO countries, which includes nine well-trained and equipped brigades, should help free more territory from Russian control during the eagerly awaited counteroffensive.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that they need more time to prepare for the counteroffensive and warned Vladimir Putin to expect a very “unpleasant surprise.”
Zelensky said in an interview, “With [what we already have] we can go forward, and, I think, be successful… But we’d lose a lot of people. I think that’s unacceptable.”
“So we need to wait. We still need a bit more time,” he added.
He is confident that Ukrainian forces will advance and that they are “ready” then warned over the risks of a “frozen conflict” which is exactly what Putin is “counting on.”
Zelensky said, “I am not ready to communicate with you, to say when we will be advancing, because I think you understand me.”
He then warned, “Because to some extent, this prepares the enemy. And therefore, I would like it to be an unpleasant surprise, not the other way around.”
The British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has told the House of Commons on Thursday that the UK has sent long-range “Storm Shadow cruise missiles” to Ukraine.
The “game changing” long range cruise missiles will enable Ukraine to be “able to defend itself” against Putin’s forces.
This is a “risk” that the UK clearly believes in taking which has angered the Kremlin and Britain has been warned by Dmitry Peskov to expect “an adequate response from our military” as the “red line” has been crossed.
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