Ukraine has managed to hold the front line and improve its positions in some areas – Pentagon

Elbridge Colby, US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, has said during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format) that Ukraine has managed to hold the front line and improve its positions in some areas.

Source: a broadcast of the meeting; Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "Indeed, without engaging in hyperbole, in recent months we have reason to think Ukraine's situation has even improved."

Details: Colby stressed the importance of Europe taking on greater responsibility for its own defence.

He said that since the beginning of last year, the Trump administration has maintained that Europe could and would take a leading role in ensuring its own defence, including by providing the bulk of support to Ukraine.

Quote: "In the war, Ukraine has managed to hold the front line and even improve its position in some places, continuing to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace, built on Russia's understanding that perpetuating this war is not only condemnable, but also will not pay off for Moscow. This provides a critical underpinning for the peace that we under President Trump's visionary leadership are seeking."

Details: However, Colby called on the allies to "not lose sight of the task before us", stressing that "much has been done, but far more remains".

He said the US also intends to continue supporting mechanisms that facilitate European support for Ukraine.

Background: At the beginning of June, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that in May the ratio of liberated to lost territory was nearly 100 sq km in favour of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian defenders have liberated more than 600 sq m of Ukrainian land since the start of the year.Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!