Ambassador Makeiev: West’s delays reason behind slower counteroffensive

This is reported by DW, Ukrinform saw.

"Russia had time to prepare for defense," Makeiev said in an interview with the German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, published on Sunday.

"A lot of time was spent on preparing and equipping Ukrainian brigades, offensive brigades," the diplomat explained. These brigades, he said, are now fully equipped and supplied with Western weapons and ammunition. He also mentioned the debate that was raging in Germany over the supply of infantry fighting vehicles and anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine.

One of the consequences of the delays in arms supplies was that they gave Moscow time to strengthen their positions on captured Ukrainian territories and protect them with a mine barrier strip, up to 20km-wide in some places.

In addition, Ukraine currently has no air superiority over its territory, Makeiev added. That is why the delivery of F-16 fighter jets is so important – Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have promised to provide Ukraine with a number of F-16s. Regarding the German Taurus cruise missiles, Makeiev said that Kyiv is in "very pragmatic and substantive negotiations" with the German government in this regard.

Ukraine has long been asking the German government to allow the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, has not yet made any concrete pledges, limiting himself to explaining that such issues need to be coordinated with other NATO partners. Berlin fears that, if given to Ukraine, the cruise missiles could be used including against targets on Russian soil.

Speaking about possible peace negotiations with Russia, Makeiev said: "It is about destruction, and Russia and, unfortunately, the Russian population do not want Ukraine to be out there as such, so against this background, there is no desire to go to negotiations with readiness for compromise." He added that this is vital for Ukraine’s survival. "Today, many partners have understood this, so they do not put pressure on us to enter into negotiations with Russia," he added.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Office of the Ukrainian President is convinced that Germany will eventually provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles.