Russia may launch offensive operations in other areas when the weather improves, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in an interview with VOA on Monday.

“We know that in the spring, when the weather improves, and it is already starting to improve, we can expect that the Russians will want to go on the offensive in certain areas,” Kirby said, as quoted by the Kyiv Independent.

“We don’t know exactly where and how they will do it, but we want to make sure that Ukrainians will be able to defend themselves better against it,” he added.

If Russia decides to launch offensive operations, “they will have the ability to carry them out,” which is why the U.S. is “developing the capabilities” it provides to Ukraine, Kirby added.

The main needs of the army of Ukraine

According to Kirby, the main needs of the Ukrainian military are armored vehicles, artillery, air defense and logistical support.

In late March, Kirby told CNN that the possibility of Russia launching a new offensive in conjunction with Ukraine’s planned spring counteroffensive makes the next few weeks of the war “critical” and that the U.S. and other Western allies must do everything they can to ensure Ukraine is ready.

Practice using Abrams

On April 21, US officials announced that 250 Ukrainian soldiers would be trained to operate and operate 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks “in the coming weeks”. In total, the training course will last 10 weeks, and after its completion, 31 M1A1 battle tanks will be sent to the front line.

Compared to the Soviet tanks currently used on the battlefield by both Ukraine and Russia, the mobility and firepower of Western vehicles could help Ukraine conduct more effective counteroffensive operations.