US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Ukraine has successfully recaptured about half of the territory initially seized by Russia during its invasion, but he warned that Kyiv faces a challenging battle to reclaim more land. In an interview with CNN, Blinken revealed that Ukraine has already regained approximately 50% of the initially occupied areas, but the counteroffensive is still in its early stages and progress has been slow. He emphasized that the conflict will likely continue for several more months.
Ukraine has managed to reclaim some villages in the southern region and territory around the devastated city of Bakhmut in the east. However, they have not yet achieved a significant breakthrough against heavily fortified Russian positions. Blinken acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and the need for a sustained effort to achieve further progress.
Regarding Ukraine’s request for US-made F-16 fighter jets, Blinken expressed his belief that they will be provided. However, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that Ukrainian pilots receive proper training and maintenance support to effectively use the aircraft. A coalition of 11 nations will commence training Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16s starting in August in Denmark, and a training center will be established in Romania.
The acquisition of F-16s has been a longstanding request from Ukraine, but there was no definitive decision on the matter as of last month. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had mentioned that there was no final determination on sending the fighter jets, and US officials estimated that it would take at least 18 months for training and delivery of the aircraft.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has been a significant provider of military aid to Ukraine, offering more than $41 billion in support. As the conflict continues, the international community remains focused on assisting Ukraine in its efforts to defend its territorial integrity and regain control of occupied areas.