Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he "wanted to launch the counteroffensive against Russian forces earlier than it began in June," noting that he "urged Western allies to expedite the supply of weapons for that purpose," as reported by CNN on Wednesday. He remarked that "everyone was aware that if the counteroffensive was discovered later, a larger part of our territories would be mined, giving our enemy time and the ability to plant more mines and prepare their defensive lines."
The difficulties on the battlefield have slowed the pace of the Ukrainian counteroffensive aimed at reclaiming territories occupied by Russia in the east and south since the start of its invasion in February of last year. Zelensky has repeatedly urged the United States and Western allies to provide Ukrainian forces with more advanced weapons, stating, "It is not even about Ukraine's superiority in the sky over the Russians; it is only about equality."
