“Expectations for a Ukrainian counteroffensive did not come true,” high-ranking security official Oleksiy Danilov, who coordinates the country’s military cabinet, admitted, according to the BBC, which is quoted by news.ro. He added: “That doesn’t mean victory won’t be on our side.”

Kyiv is now trying to unblock new Western aid packages, especially the US. Danilov believes that at least part of the military financing “will definitely come”.

The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council spoke exclusively to the BBC. In May, ahead of the counteroffensive, he said the coming months represented a “historic opportunity.” Reflecting on these words now, he said: “In May, every citizen of our country wanted the war to end as soon as possible.” “There were hopes, but they did not come true. The fact that we defended our country for two years is already a great victory,” he said.

Ukrainian forces hoped to recapture some of the territory gained by Russia during the 2022 invasion, as well as to cut off Russian supply lines to Crimea. But lacking a more powerful air force, their efforts seem to have stalled with the onset of winter.

“People make mistakes sometimes. You can’t be a 10th grader all your life,” he said. He called the current situation on the front line “very difficult” and said that the old military “manuals” – including NATO – “should be sent back to the archives.”