NATO: Western Countries Overestimated Ukrainian Armed Forces' Capabilities

The chairman of NATO's military committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, admitted that Western countries placed exaggerated hopes in the capabilities of the Ukrainian forces despite all the Western support in facing the Russian army. He stated, "The West was overly optimistic about the outcome of military operations in 2023. We thought that if we provided the Ukrainians with ammunition and the training they needed, they would prevail." He added, "This year we must try not to be overly pessimistic, simply because the fact that Ukraine remains a sovereign state to this day is just remarkable." Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the complete control of Avdiivka, and Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from the city.