Reznikov believes this year to become “game changer” for Ukraine
Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov of Ukraine believes that the year 2023 will be a game changer and that Ukraine must win the war with Russia.
The defense chief said this in an interview with Fox News, Ukrinform reports.
"This year will be a game changer," he said, indicating there would be at least some kind of pathway to the finish of the war.
"My gut feeling is we will win this war because we are fighting for our country," minister said, adding: "We have to (win - ed.), it’s our idea."
According to Reznikov, the expectations of the counteroffensive results were overestimated, and Ukraine itself is very careful not to expose its brave and motivated fighters to danger. "We try to save their lives," Reznikov said. He described the Russian approach to using its troops as a "meat grinder." He added that the current actions of the Armed Forces are not the main offensive.
Reznikov described the ongoing maneuvering as a “preparatory operation,” acknowledging that the Russians had built “very strong defensive lines.”
However, according to him, as soon as the counteroffensive fully gets going, it will be successful and "one step closer to victory."
On joining NATO, a strong defense against any nuclear attack from Russia, Reznikov is realistic.
"I’m sure we will be a full-fledged member, but it will take time," he noted. He was not put off by President Biden’s recent comments the U.S. wouldn’t make it easy for Ukraine to join.
"It’s in their interest" for NATO countries to have Ukraine as a member because it knows how to "defeat and deter Russian armed forces," Reznikov said.
As for Putin's nuclear threats, Reznikov said he considered it a bluff. "For me, personally, it sounds like a bluff. I think the civilized world has arguments against that to persuade him," he said.
As Fox News, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently noted that success in the counteroffensive could put Kyiv in a better position at the negotiation table with Moscow. Commenting on this, Reznikov stated that there will be no negotiations with Russia until the borders of Ukraine as of 1991 are restored.
"We will be ready to discuss postwar co-existence (with Russia) when they get out of our land," he said.
As reported, since February 24, 2022, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have eliminated 223,910 Russian invaders.