Zelensky proclaims Kharkiv offensive collapse.
In May, Russian forces launched an attack in the Kharkiv region, but the Ukrainian troops managed to halt their offensive after facing initial issues. President Zelensky is now looking to boost defense in that area even more.
President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russia's offensive along the eastern border of Kharkiv was unsuccessful, at least for now. Speaking in his evening video address on Saturday, he said, "The Russian army has not been able to accomplish their Kharkiv operation."
Zelensky continued, "We are keeping them at bay as much as possible and destroying Russian units that are entering our country and causing terror in the Kharkiv region." He also mentioned that the region's defense needs to be reinforced further.
Back in mid-May, Russia started an offensive against Kharkiv and captured a few Ukrainian border villages. However, they haven't made any major advancements. The city of Kharkiv itself is still under heavy bombardment. Recently, some Western allies such as Germany and the United States gave Ukraine permission to strike targets on the Russian side of the border using the weapons they've supplied.
During his speech, Zelensky thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his backing. Macron had previously promised Ukraine several fighter jets. Furthermore, he expressed readiness to send Western military instructors to the conflict zone. Zelensky met with Macron in Paris the day before.
