West clearly disappointed with Kiev counteroffensive results: Putin

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Jul 2023 16:00
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In his latest statement, Putin highlights how Western support and military aid to Ukraine have not yielded the expected result.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via a video link in Saint Petersburg on October 10, 2022. (Sputnik via AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, on Friday, that Western supporters of Kiev are disappointed with the results of Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia. He mentioned that despite the supply of weapons and foreign mercenaries, the Ukrainian forces have not been successful in breaking through the Russian army's front lines.

"Today, it is clear that the Western curators of the Kiev regime are clearly disappointed with the results of the so-called counteroffensive, which the current Ukrainian authorities loudly announced in previous months," Putin said.

Putin also remarked that public opinion in Ukraine is gradually changing, with more people questioning the motives behind the conflict and the loss of lives. He compared this shift to changes happening in Europe as well.

"People in Ukraine are increasingly asking a question, a legitimate question: 'for what, for whose selfish interests are their relatives and friends dying?' Gradually, slowly, but a wake up call is happening. We see that public opinion is changing in Europe as well," he stated.

The Russian President pointed out that the Ukrainian armed forces have suffered significant losses, and the supply of Western weapons and resources has not helped them recover, further emphasizing that further military aid from the West would only prolong the conflict.

"As a result of suicidal attacks, the Ukrainian armed forces suffered huge losses. These are tens of thousands, and I mean it — tens of thousands of people," Putin said.

Regarding Poland, Putin accused its leaders of planning to form a coalition under NATO's guise and intervene in Ukraine's conflict to seize what they consider "historical territories" in Western Ukraine.

Furthermore, Putin mentioned that the West is now considering using Lithuanians and Poles as additional forces in the conflict, indicating a shift in their approach to the situation.

"As for the Polish leaders, they probably expect to form a coalition within NATO... and directly intervene in the conflict in Ukraine in order to then 'tear off' a fatter piece [of land] for themselves, to regain, as they believe, their historical territories – today's Western Ukraine," Putin said.

"As for Belarus, it is part of the Union State. And unleashing aggression against Belarus will mean aggression against Russia. We will respond to this with all the means we have," he added.

Putin's statements reflect the perspective that Western support and military aid to Ukraine have not yielded the expected results, especially amid perceptions of geopolitical interests influencing the conflict.

"The West clearly believes that Ukrainian cannon fodder is not enough, so they plan to use new expendable materials — Poles, Lithuanians and further down the list," Putin concluded.

It is worth noting that Ukraine has been hyping its counteroffensive attack, since last year. Although the attack was intended for spring, it was moved to the summer after Ukraine blamed the delay on a lack of weapons, with barely any advancement recorded so far, as per Western reports.