Discussions in the U.S. on Ukraine's Success and the Return of Crimea

Ukrainian media reported yesterday that Russian forces have retreated from the cities of Kupiansk and Izyum in Kharkiv, while Ukrainian forces are already in the vicinity of Lysychansk and Krasny Liman. President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that more than 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region have come under Kyiv's control.

The successes in the east, particularly the return of Izyum, are significant achievements for Ukraine, but it remains unclear what strategic importance they will hold, as reported by the New York Times (NYT), citing U.S. officials.

Former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, Ben Hodges, stated that Ukraine's efforts to regain territory in the south and east may progress faster than he had expected and could potentially pave the way for an attempt to return Crimea next year.