Military expert Oleg Zhdanov said that the period for the transfer of weapons and equipment from the West to Ukraine, necessary for a counteroffensive, can range from 1-2 weeks to 1-2 months.
He told about this in an interview with TSN.ua.
Zhdanov commented on the statement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny about the need for 300 tanks, 600-700 BMPs and 500 howitzers to enter the border on February 23.
"It was meant that not taking into account the number that was given to the interview (Zaluzhnyi - ed.). In fact, General Zaluzhnyi outlined the tasks for our Western partners," the military expert explained.
He noted that Ukraine's Western partners will gather on January 18-19 for a meeting within NATO.
According to the expert, the main issue that will be considered is how many and what kind of weapons they can transfer to Ukraine in order not to weaken NATO in Europe.
In addition, another
meeting in the Rammstein format will be held on January 20.
"And
there they will already say how much, what and when they will be able to transfer to us
. Whether it will be announced or not - most likely, it will not be announced for reasons of security and the non-distribution of military information. I think that it is there that the issue of creating counteroffensive group. Taking into account the fact that we are conducting a defensive operation, most likely the
Russian Federation will carry out an offensive operation in March or April
, bringing this first wave of mobilization to our territory," Zhdanov said.
He added that a more active defensive operation awaits Ukraine, and
after that - a transition to a counteroffensive
.
"I think that it is in this context that the issue will be discussed, including in the Rammstein format," the military expert noted.
He also answered the question of when we can expect a counteroffensive of the Armed Forces, taking into account the quantity and timing of the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine.
"It all depends on where the weapons are coming from. And it depends on how quickly the right holders of these weapons will give permission for their transfer. I think that, most likely, the main supply will be carried out from warehouses in Europe. That is why consultation within NATO. And only then, at the expense or admission of the military-industrial complex of the latest types of weapons, the reserves will be replenished here on the continent. Or the same USA can safely bring from its own reserves to the territory of Europe. Therefore
, the delivery period can be calculated in one or two weeks, and can be calculated in one or two months
. Everything will depend on the political will or decision," Zhdanov explained.
We will remind you that the day before, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not rule out the transfer of Leopard tanks, which are offensive equipment, to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
However, Germany will not take such a step alone, but only with its allies.
Not against transferring Leopard and Finland tanks to Ukraine, but with the condition of making such a decision in Europe at a broad level.
The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, announced that his country would transfer a company of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Note that the company includes 14 units of such equipment.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also asked Defense Minister Ben Wallace to "work with partners" to move forward and "accelerate support to Ukraine, including the provision of tanks."
According to military expert Roman Svitan, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be able to use new offensive weapons from the West at the front already at the end of January and in February.
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