The United States believes that the long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive will lead to the return of some “strategically important territories” by Kiev, Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to US President Joe Biden, told CNN.

Ukraine: Commemoration of the victims of the war, after the liberation of the city of Bucha (Kyiv region) from the Russian occupationPhoto: Presidency of Ukraine via Bestimage / Bestimage / Profimedia

“Exactly how many, in which places, it will depend on the development of events on the ground, when the Ukrainians start this counteroffensive,” said Jake Sullivan. “But we believe that the Ukrainians will succeed in this counteroffensive.”

Asked if that meant he expected any talks before the end of this year, Sullivan declined to give any timetable but said developments on the battlefield would have a “big impact” on any future talks.

“But I will say this: President (Ukrainian Volodymyr) Zelensky himself has said that this war will eventually end diplomatically,” Sullivan said.

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