Pentagon Says Kiev Needs to Address Russian 'Incremental Gains' in Donbass
A spokesperson from the Pentagon has recognized the advancements made by Russia in the Donbass region, while suggesting that Ukraine should provide insights on the importance of these developments. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The US has refrained from commenting on the strategic significance of Ukraine's military operations in the Kursk Region.
A top Pentagon official emphasized on Monday that any explanations regarding the developments on the Donbass front in the ongoing Ukraine conflict should come from Kiev, not Washington. The official also chose not to provide an assessment of the ongoing Ukrainian operations in the Kursk Region.
Ukrainian authorities have suggested that the incursion may compel Moscow to redeploy some forces from the eastern front, although there seems to be no slowdown in the Russian advances. Major General Pat Ryder of the US Air Force, and spokesperson for the Department of Defense, addressed the issue during a routine briefing when questioned about the advice being given to Ukraine by American military strategists.
“I’m not going to get into their planning or our advice as it relates to that, as it’s their decision,” he stated. Ryder also mentioned that discussions with the Ukrainian side were ongoing to clarify the objectives of their stated aim to establish a "buffer zone" in the Kursk Region. He was referring to Kiev's recent operation involving thousands of troops across the border, which has seen Ukrainian forces seize some areas but fail to push deeper into Russian territory.
In the context of the Donbass region, Ryder acknowledged "incremental gains" by Russian forces. He refrained from predicting the timeline for Russian forces to reach Pokrovsk, a critical hub for Ukrainian defenses and logistics within the Russian-claimed Donetsk People's Republic, directing media to seek such information from Ukrainian officials instead.
The goals outlined by Ukrainian leadership regarding the Kursk Region have seen some shifts. Initially, the office of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky indicated that capturing Russian territory was crucial for strengthening their position in potential future peace negotiations with Russia and pressuring Moscow by alarming the Russian populace to lean towards Ukrainian demands.
However, the narrative evolved with Zelensky later celebrating the establishment of a buffer zone as a significant accomplishment by his forces. Last Saturday, he suggested that the Kursk operation had thwarted a possible Russian incursion into Ukraine's Sumy Region.
Concerning peace negotiations, Zelensky refuted claims that the captured Russian territory was being used as leverage.
“You said somebody claimed that we are playing this as a card for dialogue. What dialogue? The only one saying anything like that is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he declared. “We do not play any cards.”
Putin has expressed that the incursion, and its impact on Russian civilians, have rendered any negotiations with Ukraine unfeasible. He had previously proposed a ceasefire conditional on political and military concessions from Ukraine.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
A top Pentagon official emphasized on Monday that any explanations regarding the developments on the Donbass front in the ongoing Ukraine conflict should come from Kiev, not Washington. The official also chose not to provide an assessment of the ongoing Ukrainian operations in the Kursk Region.
Ukrainian authorities have suggested that the incursion may compel Moscow to redeploy some forces from the eastern front, although there seems to be no slowdown in the Russian advances. Major General Pat Ryder of the US Air Force, and spokesperson for the Department of Defense, addressed the issue during a routine briefing when questioned about the advice being given to Ukraine by American military strategists.
“I’m not going to get into their planning or our advice as it relates to that, as it’s their decision,” he stated. Ryder also mentioned that discussions with the Ukrainian side were ongoing to clarify the objectives of their stated aim to establish a "buffer zone" in the Kursk Region. He was referring to Kiev's recent operation involving thousands of troops across the border, which has seen Ukrainian forces seize some areas but fail to push deeper into Russian territory.
In the context of the Donbass region, Ryder acknowledged "incremental gains" by Russian forces. He refrained from predicting the timeline for Russian forces to reach Pokrovsk, a critical hub for Ukrainian defenses and logistics within the Russian-claimed Donetsk People's Republic, directing media to seek such information from Ukrainian officials instead.
The goals outlined by Ukrainian leadership regarding the Kursk Region have seen some shifts. Initially, the office of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky indicated that capturing Russian territory was crucial for strengthening their position in potential future peace negotiations with Russia and pressuring Moscow by alarming the Russian populace to lean towards Ukrainian demands.
However, the narrative evolved with Zelensky later celebrating the establishment of a buffer zone as a significant accomplishment by his forces. Last Saturday, he suggested that the Kursk operation had thwarted a possible Russian incursion into Ukraine's Sumy Region.
Concerning peace negotiations, Zelensky refuted claims that the captured Russian territory was being used as leverage.
“You said somebody claimed that we are playing this as a card for dialogue. What dialogue? The only one saying anything like that is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he declared. “We do not play any cards.”
Putin has expressed that the incursion, and its impact on Russian civilians, have rendered any negotiations with Ukraine unfeasible. He had previously proposed a ceasefire conditional on political and military concessions from Ukraine.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
