Ukraine Retakes Half of Invaded Land, But Hard Fight Ahead
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has hailed Ukraine’s progress in pushing back Russian forces, revealing the country has reclaimed around 50% of the territory initially seized. But he warned Kyiv’s battle is far from over.
Counteroffensive Slow but Steady
Speaking to CNN, Blinken stressed that Ukraine’s counteroffensive is still in its early stages and will stretch out for months. Despite regaining villages in the south and areas near the shattered city of Bakhmut in the east, Ukrainian forces have yet to break through Russia’s tough defensive lines.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has admitted the advance has been slower than hoped, underscoring the tough fight ahead.
F-16 Fighter Jets in the Pipeline
Blinken also gave the thumbs-up for supplying Ukraine with US-made F-16 fighter jets. But he warned that pilot training is crucial before jets can be effectively deployed.
To speed this up, 11 nations will begin training Ukrainian pilots in Denmark from August. A training centre will also open in Romania.
Ukraine has long pushed for the Lockheed Martin jets. Although no final decision was made last month, US officials say training and delivery could take at least 18 months.
Massive US Military Support Continues
Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the US has pumped over $41 billion in military aid into Ukraine, backing Kyiv’s fight against the Kremlin’s aggression.
