The Pentagon doubts that Ukrainian defenders can de-occupy the annexed

Crimea

in the near future.

Politico writes about this, quoting on condition of anonymity the words of high-ranking American officials during one of the secret briefings.

"The Pentagon does not believe that Ukraine has or will soon have the ability to dislodge Russian troops from the temporarily occupied peninsula," the publication quotes the words of its interlocutors. 

The speakers' assessment echoes what General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently said: "I still maintain that it will be very, very difficult this year to militarily expel Russian troops from all of the occupied territory. This does not mean that it can't happen. That doesn't mean it won't happen, but it will be very difficult," he previously said.

However, one of the informants noted that the briefing was more ambiguous.

But, to put it briefly, it was said that the victory of Ukraine in the offensive aimed at recapturing the illegally annexed territory is not guaranteed. 

We will remind:

  • the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, believes that the 

    liberation of Crimea will take place thanks to powerful and long-range missile and artillery weapons.

  • military expert Roman Svitan noted that during the liberation 

    Crimea will become a continuous front zone.

  • the former commander of the US forces in Europe, retired general Ben Godges, previously said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will create conditions for the operation to liberate 

    Crimea

    by February 2023 , and already in the summer of this year they will succeed in de-occupying the peninsula. 

  • Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov believes that the 

    return of Crimea will take place by military means in 2023.

  • Western mass media write that

    the liberation of Crimea 

    depends primarily on the readiness of the United States to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles.

Read also:

  • Ukraine news

  • War in Ukraine

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