Kiev [Ukraine], June 4: Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky says he believes the country is ready for a long-awaited counteroffensive to liberate its territories from Russian occupation, while in Russia, there was criticism of Moscow's efforts in the war.
"In my opinion, as of today, we are ready to do it," he said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, which the US newspaper also published as a video on its website on Saturday.
Zelensky also said Ukraine would have liked to have some more weapons for the offensive against the Russian invasion, but could not wait months more for their delivery.
"We strongly believe we will succeed," he said, according to the newspaper's translation. "I don't know how long it will take."
He said that the price for success would be high. For months there has been speculation about the start of the offensive; at times it was said in Kiev that the operation was already underway.
At the same time, Zelenksy again called for significantly more US Patriot air defence systems; in the interview, he mentioned the number 50.
Zelenksy said the Patriot missiles offered the best protection and could stop Russia's terror.
Meanwhile, there have been attacks recently in western regions of Russia, close to the Ukrainian border, that some suggest are Kiev's work and part of a counteroffensive that has already begun.
Ukraine denies these claims. Two paramilitary Russian volunteer battalions have repeatedly claimed responsibility for attacks involving drones and explosions in Kursk, Bryansk, Smolensk and Kaluga.
The governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod, VyacheslavGladkov, reported massive shelling, including with artillery, from the Ukrainian side on Saturday. This led to deaths, injuries and extensive destruction of buildings, he said.
Amid fire on the Belgorod, the head of the Russian private army Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused the Russian Defence Ministry of failing.
"The ministry is not able to do anything. There is chaos in the ministry," he said on Saturday, also referring to the faltering war on Ukraine.
Prigozhin is a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin.He said he himself would march to the region with his troops if the Russian military does not establish order there "as quickly as possible."
Source: Qatar Tribune