Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends the NATO summit via video link, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 29, 2022. Presidential Press Service d ‘Ukraine via REUTERS
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July 21 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s military has the potential to make gains on the battlefield and inflict heavy losses on Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday after meeting top commanders.
Zelenskiy, speaking in a video address in the afternoon, said the meeting had discussed the supply of modern weapons, adding that the intensity of attacks against the Russians should be stepped up.
“We agree that our forces have a strong potential to advance on the battlefield and inflict further significant losses on the occupiers,” he said.
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Kyiv is hoping that Western weapons, especially longer-range missiles like the US HIMARS that Ukraine has deployed in recent weeks, will allow it to launch a counterattack and regain territory.
Russia’s military is likely to begin an operational pause of some kind in the coming weeks, giving Kyiv a key opportunity to strike back, Britain’s intelligence chief said on Thursday. Read more
Zelenskiy said three people had been killed when Russia bombed the eastern city of Kharkiv on Thursday.
“Each of these Russian attacks is an argument for Ukraine to receive more HIMARS and other modern and effective weapons. Each of these attacks only strengthens our desire to defeat the invaders and that will certainly happen.”
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Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
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