General Hodges predicts when Ukraine's Armed Forces will push Russian troops back to February 23 positions, enter Crimea

Hodges said this in an interview with the Lithuanian LRT channel.

According to him, after the Ukrainian Armed Forces' successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, one should be patient and not expect instant success.

"I have a lot of confidence in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff. They were very smart and well planned and prepared. I would be patient as they continue to degrade Russian logistics. You won't see a de-occupied city every day, it's just not possible, but I still hope that by the end of this year, Ukrainian troops will push back the Russians at the position of February 23, and by the middle of next year they will be in Crimea," Hodges said.