Meeting With His Senior Military Commander, President Zelensky Believes Ukraine Can Beat Russian Troops

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky believes his troops have the potential to gain advantage, deal blows and inflict heavy losses on Russian troops on the battlefield.

Speaking in a video speech late at night after meeting his senior army commanders, President Zelensky said the meeting had discussed the supply of modern weapons, adding that the intensity of attacks on Russia should be increased.

"(We) agree that our troops have strong potential to advance on the battlefield and inflict significant new losses on the invaders," he said, cited from Reuters, July 22.

Kyiv hopes that Western weapons, especially long-range missiles such as the US HIMARS which Ukraine has deployed in recent weeks, will allow it to launch a counterattack and retake territory.

The Russian military is likely to begin an operational pause in the coming weeks, giving Kyiv a key opportunity to strike back, Britain's spy chief said Thursday.

On the occasion, President Zelensky said three people were killed when Russia opened fire on the eastern city of Kharkiv on Thursday.

"Each of these Russian attacks is an argument for Ukraine to receive more HIMARS and other modern and effective weapons. Each of these attacks only strengthens our will to defeat the invaders and it will surely happen," he said.