Johnson: putin is making slow but palpable progress in Donbas

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, said that russian forces are "continuing to chew through the ground" in the Donbas in Ukraine, adding that putin is making slow but palpable progress.

He said this in an interview with Bloomberg.

"I'm afraid that Putin, at great cost to himself and the russian military, is continuing to chew through ground in Donbas," he said.

"He's continuing to make gradual, slow, but, I'm afraid, palpable progress, and, therefore, it's absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily," he added.

Johnson noted that Ukraine needed more offensive weapons, including long-range multiple rocket launchers.

"I think it is very, very important that we do not get lowed because of the incredible heroism of the Ukrainians in pushing the russians back from the gates of Kyiv," Johnson added.

He also commented on Ukraine's potential talks with putin, repeating his comparison between the russian president and the crocodile.

"How can you deal with a crocodile when it's in the middle of eating your left leg? The guy's completely not to be trusted," Johnson said.

In recent weeks, senior Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have asked the United States and its allies to provide multiple-rocket launchers.

According to media reports, the Biden administration is preparing to provide Ukraine with advanced long-range missile systems.

The day before, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked the United States to decide on providing missile systems  (MLRS) as soon as possible.