Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov affirmed that his country has not been in contact with any party involved in the recent rebellion in Russia, stating that the events demonstrated the fragility of the Kremlin regime. He referred specifically to the rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of the Wagner private military group, which concluded with an agreement with the Russian authorities.
During an episode of the “Today’s Meeting” program on June 28, the Ukrainian minister discussed several topics, including the Ukrainian counteroffensive, losses suffered by the Ukrainian army, and Kyiv’s membership in NATO.
Regarding the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Reznikov revealed that it had not yet begun and that the current activities on the frontlines were merely maneuvers. He predicted that the situation would evolve differently within a week. He also mentioned that Ukraine’s allies assured the country of their continued support regardless of the cost. However, the promised F-16 aircraft would not be used in the counteroffensive.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister acknowledged the casualties among Ukrainian soldiers during the ongoing battles, noting that the losses were greater on the Russian side. He stated that he could not officially provide numbers regarding the losses because Ukrainian generals decided to withhold them from the early weeks of the Russian war on Ukraine.
He emphasized that many Russian soldiers were killed and injured in the battles, suggesting that the Russian armed forces were using their soldiers as fuel for the war. In contrast, the lives of Ukrainian soldiers were of great value, and the leadership in Kyiv is making efforts to protect them. Therefore, they requested advanced weapons, armored vehicles, and long-range missile systems from their partners.
Reznikov stated that Kyiv is fighting what he referred to as imperialism, asserting that Ukraine is not a colony of the Russian empire and will never become one. He declared that his country refuses to negotiate with the Kremlin and awaits the fall of President Vladimir Putin’s regime. However, he acknowledged that Russia is a neighboring state, and coexistence with it is necessary.
Regarding Ukraine’s ability to produce long-range missiles, the Ukrainian minister confirmed that his country has the capabilities and a history in this field, expressing his belief that Ukrainian long-range missiles will be used in the near future.
Regarding Ukraine’s membership in NATO, the guest of the “Today’s Meeting” program explained that, for the first time, 90% of the Ukrainian people agree that their country should be part of NATO. He emphasized that it is in the interest of the alliance to invite Ukraine to join as an Eastern shield for Europe. However, he anticipated that there would be no political consensus on Ukraine’s membership during the war.
