Ukraine asks counter-offensive critics to 'shut up'

Dmitry Kuleba stated that «criticizing the slow pace of the counter-offensive is spitting in the face of a Ukrainian soldier who sacrifices his life every time.» day» Photo: Angeles Visdomine/Shutterstock

Ukraine's foreign minister told Western allies criticizing the slow pace of its counteroffensive to «shut up» at an EU meeting on Thursday.

Nearly three months have passed As a result of the long-awaited counteroffensive, Ukraine's the army recaptured a dozen settlements and reached Russia's main defensive lines.

But leaked Western intelligence estimates showed that the Allies were disappointed with the progress compared to last year's blitz offensive. who recaptured parts of the territory and large cities.

«To criticize the slow pace of the counter-offensive is to spit in the face of a Ukrainian soldier who sacrifices his life every day, moving forward and freeing one kilometer of Ukrainian land after another,» Dmytro Kuleba said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Spain. .

“I would recommend all critics to shut up, come to Ukraine and try to free one square centimeter on their own.”

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These remarks showed Kyiv's growing disillusionment with criticism of the counteroffensive. He argues that the slow delivery of Western weapons is partly to blame for the speed of his advance, and claims that he has not been provided with all the weapons, especially the F-16 fighters, that he needs.

To NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Thursday urged the public to trust Ukraine in what is happening on the battlefield.

“Ukrainians have exceeded expectations again and again,” he told CNN. “We need to trust them. We advise, we help, we support. But these decisions must be made by the Ukrainians.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned allies that fighting Russia was not a “Hollywood movie,” telling them it would be foolish to expect immediate results. .

Furthermore, a Ukrainian politician said on Thursday that the country's defense minister, who played a crucial role in the negotiations on the supply of Western weapons, is expected to step down.

About this, Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote in his Telegram channel.

that Oleksiy Reznikov is likely to become the next Ukrainian ambassador to the UK. Neither Reznikov nor the presidential administration have commented on the report.

Ukrainian forces have reached Russia's main line of defense in recent days and captured the village of Robotayne last week, opening doors to larger cities in the Zaporozhye region. .

On Thursday, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar said Kyiv forces had made «successes» near the village of Novopokrivka near Robotyn, but did not elaborate.