September 9, 2022 22:46
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg commented on Friday on Ukraine’s counter-offensive, which Kyiv said had enabled it to retake some areas and towns.
Stoltenberg said the crisis in Ukraine was entering a “critical phase” thanks to this counterattack.
And he said, during a press conference with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken today, that “Ukrainian forces were able to stop the attack in Donbass, respond behind Russian lines and regain territory.”
Over the past two days, Ukraine announced a breakthrough in Kharkiv, the capital of the region of the same name and the second city in Ukraine in the northeast of the country, directly on the border with Russia.
In addition to penetration in this region, Kyiv also announced Thursday a series of victories in the south and east, confirming that it had captured many regions and towns.
In the Donbass mining basin in eastern Ukraine, where the fiercest fighting has taken place in recent months, Kyiv confirmed, on Thursday, that its forces advanced two to three kilometers near Kramatorsk and Slovyansk and regained control of the town of Uzerny.
“Only in the past few days have we seen further progress both in the south in Kherson, and in the east in the Kharkiv region,” the NATO Secretary-General explained.
He noted that this shows “the resolve of the Ukrainian forces. It shows that our support makes a difference every day.”
He added that the West’s solidarity with Ukraine must not waver now, despite the energy crisis and the rising cost of living.
“But the price we pay is measured in money, while the price that the Ukrainians pay is measured in lives,” Stoltenberg added.
“If Ukraine stops fighting, it will cease to exist as an independent country… Therefore, we must continue our efforts… for the good of Ukraine and ours,” he added.
Source: agencies
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