The counter-offensive campaign did not go smoothly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces did not yield the expected results. Despite rising losses, Zelensky stated that he would not negotiate peace with Moscow.

"Some people believe this is a Hollywood movie and expect the outcome now. But things haven't turned out that way," Zelensky told the BBC on June 21, acknowledging that the Ukrainian army's advances were "slower than expected."

"Whatever some people want, including attempts to put pressure on us, we will continue to advance on the battlefield in the way we can best," Zelensky said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Photo: Newsweek)

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense , Ukraine's counter-offensive began on June 4th but failed to strike Russian positions near the Donetsk region. Subsequent attacks along the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia areas were all repelled by Russian forces.

In addition, hundreds of Western-made armored vehicles and tanks supplied to Ukraine were destroyed in the attacks, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

While Zelensky told the BBC that Ukrainian forces had captured eight villages along the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia front lines, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Ukrainian troops had not yet breached the first line of Russia's defense.

With trenches, minefields, and fortifications running along the front lines, and the support of Russian artillery and air power controlling the skies, Ukraine has lost 30% of its Western-supplied tanks and armored vehicles, according to a Kremlin report last week.

President Zelensky is reportedly under pressure to achieve a breakthrough victory on the battlefield to bolster Western support, and he acknowledges that "battlefield victories are necessary" to resolve the conflict in a way that benefits Kyiv.

However, Zelensky stated that "no matter how far we advance in this counteroffensive, we will not agree to a frozen conflict because that is a development with no future for Ukraine."

President Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he will push back Russian troops from the four regions Moscow annexed last year following referendums: Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye. He has also affirmed his intention to reclaim Crimea.

Meanwhile, the US, UK, and other NATO countries support Zelensky's stance of refusing to "freeze" the conflict, but many also acknowledge that the Ukrainian army has no hope of attacking Crimea.

"Behind the scenes, many Western military analysts harbor deep doubts about the success of Ukraine's operation. While not going into detail, I can say that the tasks announced by the Kiev authorities are considered impossible by foreign experts," said Sergey Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

Tra Khanh (Source: russian.rt.com)

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Source: https://vtc.vn/tong-thong-ukraine-chien-dich-phan-cong-dien-ra-khong-suon-se-ar801132.html