“We did not achieve the desired results, but we are not backing down”: Zelensky on counteroffensive

President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the long-anticipated counteroffensive in the summer and fall did not bring the expected breakthroughs. 

However, he stressed that Ukraine is not retreating and needs assistance in boosting domestic arms production, Rubryka reports, citing an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by AP News.

"Look, we are not backing down, I am satisfied. We are fighting with the second (best) army in the world; I am satisfied. We are losing people, I'm not satisfied. We didn't get all the weapons we wanted. I can't be satisfied, but I also can't complain too much," said Zelensky.

He noted that the desired results were not achieved during the counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"We wanted faster results. From that perspective, unfortunately, we did not achieve the desired results. And this is a fact," said the head of state.

According to him, Ukraine did not receive all the necessary weapons from its allies, and limited forces prevented a rapid advance.

"There is not enough power to achieve the desired results faster. But this does not mean that we should give up, that we have to surrender," Zelensky said. "We are confident in our actions. We fight for what is ours."

However, he mentioned that there had been certain positive results in the last few months. The strength of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was reduced after Ukrainian attacks that breached the air defense system and struck the occupiers' headquarters in Crimea.

The president added that the temporary grain corridor created by Kyiv after Russia withdrew from the wartime agreement to ensure safe exports is still functioning.

However, Zelensky is not fixated on the past and is focusing on the next stage — boosting domestic arms production. A significant portion of the Ukrainian budget is allocated for this purpose, but the current results are far from enough to turn the tide of the war.

Ukrainian forces transitioned to a counteroffensive this summer on multiple fronts. Active battles took place in the Zaporizhzhia region, particularly in the direction of Melitopol and Berdiansk, as well as in the Bakhmut area of the Donetsk region. The Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to liberate several populated areas.

However, the counteroffensive has nearly stalled now, with one of the main reasons being Russian minefields and defense lines.