"We are continuing to increase attacks and neutralize Russian soldiers. Along with sanctions, this is forcing Russia toward a diplomatic path", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address on the evening of 22/5.
President Zelensky stated that he had previously spoken with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, expressing gratitude for their appreciation of the Ukrainian military.
"Indeed, Ukraine's position is stronger now than in previous years", he said. "Since early this year, we have recaptured and recontrolled 590 sq km of territory. The battlefield trend is certainly not favoring Russia".
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Yerevan, Armenia on 4/5. Photo: AFP |
He did not specify which fronts Ukrainian forces had reclaimed territory on. In a newly released report, the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) stated that the Ukrainian military had recontrolled approximately 400 sq km of territory in and around Dnipropetrovsk province during a limited counteroffensive earlier this year.
According to the DIA, this marks the first time Ukraine has gained more territory than it lost since 2023. The agency reported that Ukrainian officials' efforts in February to neutralize thousands of Starlink internet devices used by Russia "significantly, albeit temporarily, degraded" Moscow's military capabilities.
According to the DIA and the United States European Command (EUCOM), the Russian military has "illegally used" the Starlink satellite internet service to coordinate combat operations in areas with unstable or easily jammed communication systems, including drone attacks.
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How Russia's access to the Starlink system was blocked. Graphic: Telegraph |
On 22/5, President Zelensky said he had shared intelligence gathered by Ukraine regarding Russia's political and military plans with British, French, and German leaders. Ukraine is also working to help Europe secure a seat at the negotiating table between Ukraine and Russia, to ensure "Europe's voice is considered".
While Ukraine continues to pursue a diplomatic solution, President Zelensky noted that the country is still awaiting a response from the United States regarding "possible formats and meeting schedules" for talks with Russia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on the same day, 22/5, that Washington-mediated dialogues between Russia and Ukraine have not yielded positive results and are essentially stalled.
"If we see an opportunity to hold effective, not counterproductive, dialogues that could yield good results, we are ready to facilitate", Rubio said.
Pham Giang (According to Kyiv Independent, Ukrainska Pravda, Bloomberg)
