Situation on battlefield significantly turning in Ukraine’s favor – US general

"I believe that if the West/US continues to deliver everything promised at a faster pace, then Ukrainian forces will be able to push Russian forces back to the February 23 line by the end of this year. The situation is already turning significantly in favor of Ukraine. I expect active hostilities to continue in the winter. Ukraine will probably want to keep up the pressure on Russian forces which I believe are exhausted... And the Russian logistics system is especially exhausted," Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, the former commanding general of U.S. Army forces in Europe, told RBC-Ukraine in an interview.

According to him, the "cold phase" of the war is beneficial only to Russia.

“I assume that you mean a stalemate with less active fighting speaking of 'cold phase'? I don't think that Ukraine will or should allow this to happen... It is beneficial only to Russia," Hodges added.

He noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could regain the south of the country and limit the theater of combat operations of the Russians in the east of Ukraine.

“I'm sure they can do it provided we in the West continue to deliver what we promised. The key to this is more long-range weapons, as well as help to improve logistics networks inside Ukraine... Perhaps, it’s worth involving a commercial logistics company from the US or the UK,” he suggested.

On February 24, Russia launched an unprovoked aggressive invasion of Ukraine, continuing the war waging since 2014.

Photo credit: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

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