The Ukrainian army will not accelerate under pressure, Zelensky: Counterattack against Russia is not a Hollywood blockbuster development | Ukrainian army | Russian army | No | Russia | Counterattack | Ski | Ukraine
On June 21st local time, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Ukraine's counterattack against Russia is "slower than expected", but the Ukrainian military will accelerate the counterattack without pressure.
Zelensky stated in an interview with the BBC on June 21 that the pace of Ukrainian military advance has slowed down due to the minefields buried by Russia.
"Some people think this is a Hollywood blockbuster and are waiting to see the results, but that's not it," Zelensky said. "No matter what some people want, including trying to put pressure on us, forgive me for being blunt, we will move forward on the battlefield in what we think is the best way."
Zelensky stated that the Ukrainian army has recaptured eight villages in southern and eastern Ukraine, and stated that Ukraine will never engage in negotiations if the Russian army does not withdraw from Ukraine.
"No matter how much progress we make in the counterattack, we will not agree to a frozen conflict. This has no future for Ukraine," Zelensky said.
At the same time, Russian President Putin stated in a televised speech on June 21st that since Ukraine began pushing for a counterattack in early June, the Ukrainian military has suffered serious military losses, and the Russian military has observed "some calmness" on the Ukrainian front line.
But contrary to Putin's statement, the head of the Russian private mercenary group Wagner, Prigokin, stated on the 21st that Russian defense officials have concealed information about the progress of Ukraine's counterattack. He stated that some villages have been lost and the Russian military is suffering from shortages of weapons and ammunition.