Russia is not the only one to have been taken by surprise by the Ukrainian incursion into its territory. Kiev's allies also seem to have been surprised. Ten days after the start of this unprecedented offensive launched on August 6 by the Ukrainian army in the Russian region of Kursk, most of them are showing great caution and discretion, without hiding their satisfaction.
“I prefer not to comment on this publicly.”Joe Biden responded on August 13. The President of the United States clarified that he was discussing Ukraine with his teams “probably every four or five hours, for the last six or eight days” and that his administration was “in constant contact with the Ukrainians”. Then he rejoiced: “This creates a real dilemma for Putin.” – one of kyiv's stated goals is to force Russia to thin the front in the Ukrainian Donbass in order to come to the aid of the Kursk region.
“I expect us to continue to stand by our Ukrainian partners”the deputy spokesman for the US State Department, Vedant Patel, later clarified. However, Ukrainian forces are not only maintaining their positions on Russian soil, but even seem to be gaining ground. On Thursday, August 15, kyiv claimed to control 82 localities and 1,150 square kilometers in the Kursk region. By comparison, it took Russian forces six months, from January to July, to occupy an additional 1,175 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, according to the Institute for the Study of War. “In total (…)our troops have advanced 35 kilometers in depth”Ukrainian army commander Oleksandr Syrsky said during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
” Keep it up “
Were Ukraine's allies warned in advance of the operation? We don't know. The day after the August 6 assault, the US State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, declared in any case that the United States had not been warned. “We provide them with equipment, we provide them with advice, but when it comes to the day-to-day tactical operations that they're doing, the day-to-day strikes that they're doing, sometimes we're in communication, sometimes we're not.”
The Biden administration has discouraged cross-border strikes, but in June it allowed Ukraine to use some U.S.-supplied weapons to target military assets on Russian territory. “Nothing in our policy has changed, and with the actions they are taking today, they are not violating our policy.”added Matthew Miller.
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Source: Lemonde
