“That doesn’t mean it can’t happen. But it will be very, very difficult,” Gen Milley added.
“It is also quite possible” for the Ukrainians to carry out a significant offensive (…) in order to free up as much territory as possible. But “it will depend on the delivery of equipment, and training”, continued the highest ranking officer of the American army.
The United States expects a counter-offensive by Ukrainian troops in the spring, US Secretary (Minister) of Defense Lloyd Austin told the press, stressing that it was a question for the allies of to help kyiv prepare for it.
For the delivery of materials, “we have a window of opportunity between now and spring…as soon as they start their operation, their counter-offensive,” he said. “It’s not a long time and we need to get the right skills together,” he stressed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zekensky on Friday urged Westerners to speed up their deliveries of heavy weapons, including tanks.
However, no decision was taken at the end of the Ramstein meeting on the next shipment of German-made Leopard 2 tanks, insistently demanded by Ukraine.
The issue “has been discussed” but “no decision has been taken”, said new German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
The Polish Minister of Defense for his part declared himself “convinced” that the allies will succeed in creating a coalition to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
“I am convinced that the formation of this coalition will end up being a success,” declared Mariusz Blaszczak after the meeting of Ukraine’s supporters in Ramstein.
Poland has said it is ready to send fourteen Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as part of an international coalition, with the green light from Germany, producer of these tanks.
“This hope stems from the fact that defense ministers from fifteen countries met on the sidelines of today’s conference and we discussed” this issue, the minister said.
Blaszczak also said that Poland, under the new Ukraine aid package, would “equip and train Ukrainian soldiers at brigade level”. “It will be used infantry fighting vehicles and T-72 tanks,” he said.