The US does not want Ukraine to rush to regain lost territory.

The Washington Post , citing unnamed sources, said that the new strategy of the administration of US President Joe Biden will "discourage" Ukraine from regaining "lost territories" this year, but instead focus on maintaining Kiev's military potential in the conflict with Russia.

Washington Post sources also mentioned referendums in Russian-annexed Ukrainian territories in 2022.

The Biden administration is "still reeling" from Kiev's failed counteroffensive in 2023, the source added, prompting Washington to "implement a new strategy" that includes helping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strengthen his military and economy as he loses much of the aid from his allies.

Ukraine's losses after 6 months of counter-offensive forced the US to change its support strategy for Kiev. (Photo: Sputnik)

“The new plan for Kiev represents a dramatic shift in Washington’s stance from last year, when US and allied troops rushed sophisticated training and equipment to Kiev in the hope of quickly repelling Russian forces,” the Washington Post source added.

One source added that it is clear that the Ukrainian armed forces are unlikely to achieve maximum support from Western allies in 2024. Instead, Kiev must maintain its current achievements and minimize losses in both personnel and equipment.

Russian Defense Minister, General Sergei Shoigu, said in late December that the Russian armed forces had achieved their main goal of last year by stopping Ukraine's summer counteroffensive.

"The main goal of the special military operation in 2023 was to prevent a counterattack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which was publicly announced by Ukraine and its NATO allies at the beginning of the year. This task was successfully completed," Minister Shoigu emphasized.

The statement came after Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov told reporters that Ukraine had lost about 160,000 troops and more than 3,000 armored vehicles, including 766 tanks, as well as 121 aircraft and 23 helicopters on all fronts during the six-month counteroffensive.

Tra Khanh (Source: Sputnik)

Source