US says ready to provide Kiev with what it needs for counteroffensive
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says his country is ready to provide Ukraine with everything it might need to kick off its counteroffensive against Russia.
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Residential buildings razed to the ground and shell craters are seen on an aerial view of Maryinka, an eastern city where heaviest battles with the Russian troops have been taking place in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, May 11, 2023 (AP)
The Biden administration is ready to fill Ukraine's requirements to launch a counteroffensive against Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.
The US top diplomat underlined that his country was also determined to ensure the UK's supply of long-range missiles adds up to what Ukraine needs.
"If there are gaps, if there are shortages, they’ll tell us and we will make every effort to make good on them," Blinken told PBS on Thursday when asked about US support for Ukraine's counteroffensive.
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Thursday that all the Challenger 2 tanks that were promised to Kiev have arrived in Ukraine.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Wallace said that all promised tanks were successfully delivered to Kiev, as well as spare parts.
The official added that Ukrainian soldiers had conducted drills to learn how to operate the vehicles.
Additionally, CNN reported that the UK had sent long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine after receiving guarantees from Kiev that they would not be used against targets in Russia.
Western observers say this will be a crucial step that will determine the re-capture of annexed territories in the East.
This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during an interview published by the BBC Thursday that Ukraine was not ready yet to launch a counteroffensive and requires more time to do so.
Ukrainian National Security Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov revealed Tuesday that the long-anticipated spring counteroffensive is still being planned, saying that different options were still in consideration.
"Today, people who know exactly all our plans, they do not exist. The final plan has not yet been approved. We have several options, they are all being worked out, and depending on the circumstances that will be in that or another period of time, certain decisions will be made," Danilov said.
Foreign Policy released a report in April saying that the spring counteroffensive, which was reportedly due to begin on April 30, has been postponed indefinitely due to a shortage of weapons.
Additionally, in early April the Ukrainian Prime minister announced that the offensive would be carried out in the summer.
