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| Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a media conference during the European Political Community Summit at the Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova, June 1. AP-Yonhap |
Ukraine is ready to launch its long-awaited counteroffensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview published Saturday.
"We strongly believe that we will succeed," Zelenskyy told the Wall Street Journal.
"I don't know how long it will take. To be honest, it can go a variety of ways, completely different. But we are going to do it, and we are ready."
Kyiv hopes a counteroffensive to reclaim territory will change the dynamics of the war that has raged since Russia invaded its smaller neighbor 15 months ago.
Zelenskyy said last month Ukraine needed to wait for more Western armored vehicles arrived before launching the counteroffensive. He has been on a diplomatic push to maintain Western support, seeking more military aid and weapons, which are key for Ukraine to succeed in its plans.
Russia holds swaths of Ukrainian territory in the east, south and southeast.
A long spell of dry weather in some parts of Ukraine has driven anticipation that the counteroffensive might be imminent. Over the past several weeks Ukraine has increased it strikes on Russian ammunition depots and logistical routes.
On Saturday Ukraine's military said in a daily report that Mariinka in the Donetsk region in the east was the focus of fighting. Ukrainian forces repelled all 14 Russian troops' attacks there, the report said. (Reuters)
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