Ukrainian forces foiled Russian plans to seize key cities
Ukrainian forces have thwarted Russian plans to occupy Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia, which were to be executed in the autumn and winter of 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported.
The Ukrainian army successfully disrupted Russian plans to seize three key cities: Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.
- In the autumn and winter of 2024, three operations by the Russian Federation concerning the occupation of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia were thwarted. I believe that the soldiers particularly distinguished themselves in these efforts. The nation went through this ordeal in 2024 - stated Zelensky in an evening television programme.
The president emphasised that Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia are Ukrainian cities, and their residents underwent a significant trial. - These are Ukrainian cities with Ukrainian people. I would like to thank the residents of these cities. They endured a significant trial - Zelensky noted.
European troops in Ukraine?
The Ukrainian leader also referred in an interview to the suggestion made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who proposed the possibility of deploying French troops in Ukraine.
- I think you've heard about President (of France Emmanuel) Macron's initiative regarding deploying the French Republic's contingent on Ukrainian soil. We support such an initiative, but France alone isn't sufficient. We wouldn't want it to involve only one or two countries. It should definitely align with the path to NATO. This doesn't imply that deploying European forces excludes Ukraine's future in NATO - he stated.
According to the president, the United Kingdom may support the idea of sending a European contingent to his country "and several other countries, which we've agreed not to mention openly, as they're still hesitant to discuss this in the media, fearing Russian influence." Zelensky also noted that he's unsure whether the United States would participate in such forces - wrote the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
