Ukraine’s defense forces will continue the counteroffensive when winter sets in, the ground freezes and heavy equipment can move.
This was stated by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley at a briefing after a meeting of the Ramstein format contact group on Ukraine’s defense, Defence Now reports.
The general noted that Ukraine is slowly but surely moving forward every day, towards the state defined by President Zelensky and confirmed by allied countries.
He also noted that Kyiv has no plans to stop the counteroffensive as winter approaches.
– With the approach of winter, there will be a period when heavy equipment will not be able to move through the wet ground. However, later the ground will freeze, so this will no longer be a problem. Today at the meeting (of the Ramstein group – Ed.), representatives of the Ukrainian side noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not intend to suspend the counteroffensive because of the onset of winter. Moreover, they have a strategic advantage at the front,” said Mark Milley.
On Tuesday, September 19, the 15th meeting of the contact group on Ukraine’s defense in the Ramstein format started at the German air base Ramstein. The meeting is attended by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. The Ukrainian delegation also includes the new Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.
During the meeting, the parties discussed Ukraine’s most urgent needs, including the provision of artillery ammunition and replenishment of ammunition for Western air defense systems.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that air defense systems will continue to be Ukraine’s “greatest need” in the war against Russia. He called on leaders to donate ammunition for air defense as the country enters winter.
During the 14th meeting in the Ramstein format on July 18, the allies discussed the supply of air defense systems, ammunition and armor to Ukraine.
