The U.S. military is speeding up preparations for the Ukrainian Spring Army counteroffensive.

(Reuters)

[Compilation of Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] The US political news website "Politico" reported on the 15th that the US military is accelerating the transfer of equipment to the battlefield and speeding up the pace of training the Ukrainian army in order to launch a large-scale offensive against the Russian army before late spring.

The U.S. side expects the offensive to begin in May.

According to reports, the NATO Ukraine Defense Contact Group (NATO), which is responsible for coordinating military aid to Ukraine, held its 10th meeting that day. US Secretary of Defense Austin emphasized after the meeting that Ukraine has no time to waste.

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"We must quickly and fully deliver on our commitments," Austin said. "This includes getting our armored vehicles into the field and making sure Ukrainian soldiers have the training, spare parts and technical support they need to use these new systems as quickly as possible."

As spring approaches, U.S. officials are reportedly growing increasingly concerned that Ukraine is running out of ammunition, air defenses and experienced soldiers.

Russia and Ukraine continue to battle in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which the U.S. considers not of strategic importance, but the Pentagon has stressed that the U.S. wants Ukrainian troops to have the weapons they need to keep fighting, regardless of Kiev's strategy on the battlefield.

For months, Russia has been bombarding Ukraine with missiles not only to cause damage but also to deplete Ukraine's air defense stockpile.

Ukrainian soldiers speak of critical shortages of basic ammunition.

According to U.S. officials, more than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the war for more than a year, including the most experienced soldiers.

Many of these losses were at Bachemt, and both sides suffered heavy casualties.

Led by soldiers of Wagner's mercenary group, the Russians laid siege to the city in September, reducing it to rubble.

The Ukrainian army has refused to give in, and President Zelensky has insisted that defending Bakhmut is key to controlling other eastern cities.

Instead, U.S. officials have focused more on getting Ukraine ready for a massive spring offensive to retake the territory, which they expect to begin in May.

Hundreds of Western combat and armored vehicles, including for the first time equipment that can build bridges and allow troops to cross rivers, are reportedly heading to Ukraine to launch the offensive.

U.S. and European partners have also shipped large quantities of ammunition and 155mm shells, which Ukraine sees as its most urgent need.

The U.S. military aid program "has been focused for the past four or five months on the equipment needed for the Ukrainian counteroffensive," said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity at the government's request.

While U.S. officials were careful not to tell Kiev how to fight the war, Pentagon officials said on the 15th that the equipment and training provided would enable Ukraine to win the war.