Acknowledging Difficulties on the Battle Front Lines, Ukrainian President Zelensky: We Have a Plan and It Will Succeed

President Zelensky with the Ukrainian military. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Ukraine would still try to achieve results on the battlefield by the end of this year, remaining confident that Kyiv would ultimately succeed in the war despite difficulties on the front lines.

Acknowledging the slow progress of Kyiv's counteroffensive in the occupied south in an interview via video link with Reuters, he also touted Ukraine's battlefield plans for 2024 which he said he could not reveal.

His tone contrasted with last week's grim assessment of his commander-in-chief, who said the fighting now entering its 21st month may be headed for a stalemate.

"We have a plan. We have very concrete cities, the direction we are going is very (concrete). I can't convey all the details but we have some slow steps forward in the south, there are also steps in the east," explained President Zelensky, reported Reuters November 9.

"And some steps, I think are good steps near the Kherson region. I'm sure we will succeed. It's difficult," he continued.

Ukrainian troops have been trying to build bridgeheads on the eastern bank of the vast Dnipro river in the Kherson region, much of which was liberated in Ukraine's last rapid counteroffensive nearly a year ago.

On the same occasion, President Zelensky stressed the need for Ukrainians to remain united, something he said Western leaders could help with, as the war continues with winter airstrikes and questions over the sustainability of Western military aid.