Ukraine has no plans to attack Russia’s territory during the planned counter-offensive, said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, the 14th of May.
During a joint press-conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine’s goal is liberating occupied territories located within its internationally recognised borders.
Previously there were assumptions voiced about Ukraine potentially capturing Russia’s territories in order to later try to exchange them for occupied territories in possible peace talks with Russia.
Answering questions from journalists, Zelensky said: “We are not attacking Russia’s territories, we are liberating our territory”.
“We have neither the time, nor the force [to attack Russia]. And we don’t have arms to spare to do that,” said the president.
“We are preparing a counter-offensive on illegally occupied territories, within our country’s internationally recognised borders,” stressed Zelensky.
He also thanked Scholz for Germany’s political, financial and military aid, adding that Germany is now Ukraine’s second biggest supporters after US. He jokingly commented that he is working to make it the biggest supporter.
At first Germany was hesitant in giving Ukraine lethal arms, but now this country has supplied a lot of arms, including Leopard tanks, missiles and anti-air systems.
“We will keep supporting you for as long as possible,” Scholz promised.
On Saturday, the 13th of May, Germany announced plans to provide Ukraine military aid worth EUR 2.7 billion, as well as tanks, anti-air systems and munitions.
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