Ukrainian Counteroffensive Is Indeed Ongoing, but Is Not Being Successful: Putin

“The Ukrainian counteroffensive is indeed ongoing, but it is not being successful,” stated Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that in certain areas of the Ukrainian armed forces, it may be possible to reach the first line of defense, while in other segments, it may not.

It is noteworthy that during his speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Vladimir Putin emphasized that the Russian Federation must increase defense spending to protect its sovereignty.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia spent 34 percent more on “national defense” in 2022 than previously budgeted. This has allowed the Russian Federation to become the third country in the world in terms of military spending, following the United States and China.