US Senator Kelly on counteroffensive of Ukrainian Armed Forces: Ukrainian military is doing fantastic job in incredibly difficult conditions
US Senator from Arizona Mark Kelly (Democratic Party), who is on a visit to Kyiv, said that Ukraine has made progress in the counteroffensive, and the Ukrainian military is doing a fantastic job in incredibly difficult conditions.
According to Censor.NET, citing Interfax-Ukraine, Kelly said this at a briefing in Kyiv on Monday.
"I think the Ukrainian military is doing a fantastic job in incredibly difficult conditions. I mean, against one of the largest armies in the world. At least initially, you know, the progress that's been made in this counter-offensive, I think, I think it's good. Do we want it to be faster? Do we want more? Of course, we do. But we are making progress, and I believe that will continue," Kelly said.
Asked whether he believes the F-16 and ATACMS will be a game-changer on the battlefield, the senator said: "I don't think there is anything that can be called a panacea."
"A longer-range surface-to-surface missile system can definitely make a difference, a fourth-generation fighter flying well-trained people and well-served by a crew on the ground can make a difference, if you put those two things together, yes, I think it will make a difference," Kelly said.
At the same time, he expressed confidence that the Ukrainian people will succeed, thanks to the right decisions of the government and the help of partners.
Speaking about the likely timing of the transfer of ATACMS to Ukraine, he noted that "it will be a decision of the Biden administration".
In addition, Kelly said that as part of his visit to Ukraine, he will meet today with friends and colleagues of the fallen pilot Andriy "Juice" Pilshchikov.
"He was tragically killed a few weeks ago in an L-39 crash. I met with him last year in my Senate office in Washington, DC. We talked about what worked for their brigade flying the MiG-29 against the Russian air force and what they needed going forward. And I worked with him and others to get to where we are today," the senator said.
According to him, in the near future, the US is going to start training F-16 pilots in Arizona, and in particular in Tucson, where he lives. As Kelly noted: "The F-16 is an aircraft with quite a lot of capability. "And I think it will make a difference," he said.
At the same time, the senator stressed that "We're not going to see F-16s in the skies over Ukraine next week or next month."
"It will take months to train the team, but we will get there, and I think this is a new and significant capability. And there are some things we need to work out and figure out how we want to use the aircraft. It has many different roles, but I think it will make a difference," he explained.
According to Kelly, he and the ambassador also met with the border guard detachment. According to him, later he intends to meet with Ukrainian veterans.
"I want to express my firm belief that we cannot allow Putin and his cronies to succeed here. To do so would be a colossal mistake on the part of the West," he said.
This is reportedly Senator Kelly's second visit to Ukraine, having first been here in April.
