U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that the onset of winter could favor Ukrainian troops in the context of the war, launched by Russia in late February.
At a press conference following the latest military meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group (UDCG) — also known as the ‘Ramstein format’ — Austin has pointed out that the Ukrainian Army is more prepared for these conditions than the Russian troops.
At this point, Austin highlighted the «very generous» aid to Ukraine from the allies, who in recent weeks have announced the shipment of warm clothing and equipment to face this time of the year, which is particularly harsh in Eastern Europe.
«On the other hand, the Russian Army is fighting in a foreign country. The Ukrainians have made their supply routes problematic. It will be difficult for them to deliver to the troops the necessary equipment for effective warfare,» he noted Thus, the U.S. representative has encouraged the Ukrainian Armed Forces to continue to put pressure on Russia on the battlefield, as he believes that winter could also work against Moscow’s supplying its soldiers with supplies, Ukrainian UNIAN agency reports.
In this regard, he stressed that the Ukrainian authorities are aware that they cannot allow the Russians to «rest and rearm», as it would be a major operational mistake. «I don’t think they will make that mistake,» he reiterated.
