Ukraine may have received long-awaited US aid last month, but a counter-offensive against Russia will not be considered until 2025, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Ukraine, Sullivan said, will still be able to “hold on” and resist Russian attacks until 2024 thanks to aid coming from the United States. But Sullivan said he still expects “Russian advances in the period ahead” because it will be some time before U.S. aid reaches Ukraine.
“You can’t instantly flip the switch,” Sullivan told festival attendees.
A counter-offensive, allowing Ukraine “to move forward to reclaim the territory the Russians took from it,” will not take place until 2025, Sullivan said.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a BI request for comment sent outside normal business hours.
Sullivan’s remarks on the war come at a precarious time for Ukraine. In addition to facing repeated calls from the Republican Party to cut off U.S. aid, the country also must fend off a reinvigorated Russian military.
“The military is now larger – by 15 percent – than it was when it invaded Ukraine,” US Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli told a committee hearing. armed services of the House of Representatives on April 10.
“The gravity of this moment cannot be overstated: If we do not continue to support Ukraine, Ukraine could lose,” said Cavoli, who is also NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe.
Last month, the House of Representatives finally approved more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. The bill was delayed for months due to fierce opposition from the Republican Party. In fact, when the bill passed on April 20, 112 Republicans voted against it.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, the aid received will provide little immediate relief to the Ukrainians.
According to the ISW, this is because the Russians are still able to “take advantage of the limited window before new US aid arrives” to intensify their attacks.
“The front-line situation will therefore likely continue to deteriorate during this period,” writes the American think tank.
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