Fighting in Ukraine grow more intense, Armed Forces are ready for counteroffensive — US General Milley

He said this in an interview with AP.

The hostilities have intensified a little, noted the American general, highlighting the increased intensity of the conflict in Ukraine. 

He expressed confidence in the Ukrainian forces' ability to effectively defend their country since the full-scale Russian invasion.

General Milley stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are well equipped and trained for either offensive or defensive operations, emphasizing their readiness for various scenarios.

Ukraine’s readiness for counteroffensive 

On June 3, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's preparedness for a counteroffensive, although he acknowledged that it might require time and incur a high cost. Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Hanna Maliar, shared a video outlining the future plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The video stated, "Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the start," indicating that the counteroffensive would commence without prior announcement.

The US administration, along with its allies and partners, believes they have provided significant military assistance to Ukraine for their counteroffensive operations. General Milley highlighted that Ukraine's tanks would provide the most substantial firepower in these efforts.

However, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov clarified that the Defense Forces will not use F-16 fighter jets during the upcoming summer counteroffensive. This decision stems from the fact that some Western countries have recently initiated or are planning to begin training Ukrainian pilots specifically for flying these aircraft.