“I think Ukraine will liberate Crimea in the summer of 2023” - Ben Hodges

This is reported on Spotlight Ukraine | Espreso TV Channel. 

The retired US Army officer believes that the winter months will bring more advantages to the Ukrainian army.

"My sense is that the Ukrainian General Staff will take advantage of the better-trained and more highly motivated soldiers on the Ukrainian side and the support from the West and will keep the pressure on the Russian forces as much as they can within these circumstances. And, of course, it will be extremely cold and miserable for Ukrainian soldiers operating in the conditions like we are seeing right here. But it will be much worse for the Russian soldiers, as they are not properly trained, not properly equipped, and do not have good leadership. I think this is the last winter Russia can use the gas as a weapon, and I think Ukraine will liberate Crimea in the summer of 2023," he said. 

In conclusion, Ben Hodges added that the liberation of the peninsula is extremely important for the Ukrainian people, because "Ukraine will not be secure if Russia retains any part of Crimea."