Zaluzhny saying Ukrainian army on cusp of a breakthrough – WSJ

U.S. and Ukrainian officials have been engaged in an intense behind-the-scenes debate for weeks over the strategy and tactics of Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

“American military officials have been urging the Ukrainians to return to the combined arms training they received at allied bases in Europe by concentrating their forces to try to bust through Russia defenses and push to the Sea of Azov,” reads the article by the Wall Street Journal.

The American advice is based on the calculation that the surge of equipment the U.S. has funneled to Ukraine is enough for this offensive and is unlikely to be repeated at anywhere near the same level in 2024.

However, it isn’t too late for Ukraine to make gains, according to U.S. officials.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny has told U.S. officials that the Ukrainian army is on the cusp of a breakthrough.

Yet deep divisions over the strategy linger. The U.S. for the past several weeks has urged the Ukrainians to mass their forces and concentrate in an area north of Tokmak in the south to push through the first line of Russian defenses, generally acknowledged as the toughest line to break, and not to waste efforts in Bakhmut direction.

As noted, Kyiv has made some adjustments in recent weeks.