Top U.S. officials have advised Ukraine not to launch a major offensive against Russian troops until U.S. weapons are in place, and that training has been completed, a top Biden administration official stated on Friday.
A US official spoke to small groups of journalists on condition that they remain anonymous. The statement was made amid controversy between Germany and the USA over tank supplies to Ukraine.
When asked by reporters at the White House if President Joe Biden supports Poland sending German-made Leopard tanks into Ukraine, he replied, “Ukraine will get all the aid they need.”
According to the official, U.S. discussions with Ukraine regarding any counter-offensive were done in order for the Ukrainians to spend enough time training on the most recent weaponry from the United States.
According to U.S. officials, an offensive could be more successful if the Ukrainians took advantage of training and significant new weapons.
On Thursday, the United States announced that it would send hundreds of armored vehicles to Ukraine in support of the war.
In recent days, a high-ranking U.S. delegation including Deputy Secretary Of State Wendy Sherman as well as deputy White House National Security Advisor Jon Finer visited Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian officials.
Washington believes that Ukraine spent substantial resources to defend Bakhmut, but there’s a good chance that Russia will push them out.
The official stated that if this happens it won’t result in any tactical shifts on the battlefield.
The official stated that one consideration is the amount of money they keep pouring into Bakhmut defense, at the same time they prepare for an offensive against the Russians in areas they control in south Ukraine.
According to the official, U.S. officials have been working with Ukrainians in this deal.
Officials from the U.S. are also advising Ukraine that it should change how Kyiv fights war. They advise Ukraine not to try to match Russia with artillery fire, as Moscow is ultimately going to win the battle through attrition.
According to the official, this is the reason why U.S. weaponry supplies have recently included armored vehicles. It will assist Ukraine in changing its approach to fighting the war.
The fighting has been hampered by bad winter weather, but a cold snap that freezes and hardens ground may allow either side to launch an offensive using heavy equipment. Serhiy Haidai (governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk Region) said that this could happen.
According to the official, there is no plan by the United States to send Abrams tanks into Ukraine at this time because these tanks are expensive and hard to maintain.
Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister, denied Berlin unilaterally blocking the shipment of Leopard main combat tanks to Ukraine. However, he said that the government is ready to quickly send the tanks if the allies agree.
