Carpenter: There is potential for successful Ukrainian counteroffensive

U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE Michael Carpenter said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"My assessment is that it's early days, as we say in colloquial English, which means that we have a lot of time left to see how the counteroffensive shapes up," Carpenter said, commenting on the strategic counteroffensive operation of the Ukrainian defense forces.

He said that there is no doubt that "it's going to be very difficult that engaging in offensive warfare requires more, especially manpower resources, than defense, and that the Russians have mined a great deal of territory on the front lines."

"At this stage, I would not like to make too many predictions. But, of course, there is potential for Ukraine to achieve success. And if there is an opportunity, then everything can develop quickly. So let's see how everything will happen in the next few months," Carpenter said.

According to the ambassador, the Ukrainian army, as before, needs a whole range of defense systems.

"There's no one single platform or capability that is essential – without looking at the picture holistically. But clearly, long-range fires, air defense, artillery," he said.

According to Carpenter, that's why the recent U.S. decision to provide dual-purpose improved conventional munitions, or DPICMs, is essential, "because this provides that artillery capability that Ukraine needs, given the expenditure of artillery rounds on the battlefield."

Carpenter said that "it's all of these things together" and "there's no one element that is sort of the silver bullet here."

In addition, he said that the Ukrainian troops "are extraordinarily well-trained and they have the advantage of determination and morale on their side."

"I mean, Ukrainians are obviously liberating their land. They are protecting their families and their towns and their neighborhoods from a relentless and vicious attack from the Russian side. The Russians are in this only for territorial aggrandizement, for imperialistic reasons. I wouldn't discount that motivation, but I think it's on that – in terms of determination, morale, I think the clear advantage is on the Ukrainian side. And so if we continue to provide the equipment that Ukraine needs, I think Ukraine can be decisive on the battlefield," Carpenter said.