It is necessary to achieve “breakthrough on the battlefield” in 2023, and for this Ukraine needs “quick support in sufficient volume”, noted Minister of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov during a speech at the Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimean Platform in Bucharest.
The Ukrainian minister listed theses, which, in his opinion, “should be at the basis of a set of decisions to ensure peace, security, welfare and development in the Black Sea region.”
“The free world must have a strategic initiative and be ready to act quickly and preemptively. This is an important change in consciousness, not everyone is psychologically ready. Without this readiness, political will and correct decisions will not appear. But this approach will be the best sobering factor for any aggressor,” said Reznikov.
Also, in his opinion, a “system of guarantees-fuses” is necessary, which will minimize the desire of the Russian Federation to solve something by force.
“In the context of the Black Sea region, everything is obvious – there is no alternative to NATO. There is no alternative to Ukraine in NATO. We proved our ability to strengthen the Alliance and took formal steps – submitted an application for admission. The lack of movement will only continue the uncertainty and risks,” the head of the Ministry of Defense emphasized.
According to Reznikov, any talks and models about security in the region, which do not include the liberation of Crimea from the Russian occupiers, “are illusions to which we must say goodbye.”
Reznikov is sure that Russia should become a democratic federation, “go through denazification, extradite criminals, compensate for the damage.”
Earlier in an interview with the American publication The Hill, Shmygal said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine may launch a counteroffensive not in the spring, but in the summer of this year.
American edition New York Times On April 6, it was reported that allegedly classified documents appeared on Twitter and Telegram that week detailing US and NATO plans to strengthen Ukrainian armed forces ahead of a planned counteroffensive. As CNN reports with reference to its sources, due to the leak of secret documents, Ukraine has already changed some of its military plans.