No need to impose rapid counteroffensive pace on Ukraine – Estonia

Partners should not impose on Ukraine a rate of counteroffensive that is not supported by wartime logic, Jüri Luik, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, said.

“After all, the Russians have three powerful defence lines there, vast minefields, and fortified bunkers. One can only imagine how difficult it is for Ukrainian soldiers to break through them. And in general, when transitioning to an offensive, the most challenging part is overcoming the defensive line. It’s the hardest and requires many casualties,” Luik said.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine still have significant reserves at their disposal, which have not yet been used in combat. In addition, the Estonian ambassador to NATO believes there should not be exaggerated expectations regarding a counteroffensive.

Meanwhile, Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the German Bundestag from the opposition Christian Democratic Union, urged not to criticize the Armed Forces’ actions and to give Ukraine more weapons.

“I reject such criticism on principle because we Germans, the Bundeswehr, are not in the trenches and therefore should not criticize while sitting in our warm chairs and without any information about the situation on the ground. Ukraine has to rely on its own experience and, in the end, make do with the very little material it receives for support,” Kiesewetter said.

“It is very impudent to criticize when Germany is to blame for the slow progress: Ukraine’s biggest problem is that it lost a year due to the delay in arms deliveries,” the German deputy added.

Kiesewetter’s reaction was caused by the Bild publication’s information about a secret Bundeswehr document with critical assessments of the Armed Forces’ use of Western methods of waging war.