Speaking at the FT Weekend Festival in Washington on Saturday, Sullivan said that he still expects “Russian advances in the coming period” on the battlefield, despite the new US funding package approved last month, because “you can’t instantly flip the switch”.
But he said that with the new aid from Washington, Kyiv would have the capacity to “hold the line” and “ensure Ukraine withstands the Russian assault” throughout 2024.
And pointing to the scenario for the war next year, Sullivan said Ukraine intended to “move forward to recapture the territory that the Russians have taken from them”.
His comments about a potential counteroffensive by Ukraine represent the White House’s clearest articulation of how it views the conflict evolving if President Joe Biden wins re-election in November.
Any new offensive in 2025 by Ukraine would be dependent on more funding from Congress, and approval by the White House.
But Donald Trump, the former president, and presumptive Republican nominee, has been skeptical of Ukraine aid and has claimed to try to end the conflict quickly and seek a negotiated settlement.
SD/PR