The More Territory the Ukrainian Armed Forces Reclaim, the Stronger Ukraine Is at the Negotiating Table: Expert Opinion

Political expert and serviceman Oleksandr Musiienko spoke about the successes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) on the frontline, which are strengthening Ukraine’s position in negotiations and allowing diplomats to speak from a position of strength, Politeka reports.

He shared his thoughts in his blog.

"We are seeing active operations on the frontline, and they are very important," Musiienko noted. "Commander-in-Chief of the UAF, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that in recent weeks, the Defense Forces have liberated about 16 kilometers of territory near the settlements of Udachne, Kotlyne, and Shevchenko. This is in the Pokrovsk direction."

He warns that the enemy has not abandoned its plans to push Ukrainian forces out of Donbas and Luhansk and to reach the administrative borders of these regions. However, that objective remains unfulfilled, as Ukraine continues counteroffensive operations and is achieving certain successes.

The expert also recalls how, back in September 2024, Western observers, OSINT analysts, and journalists warned that Pokrovsk was at risk of occupation and that Ukraine should prepare for battles for the city. But the UAF did not allow the enemy to execute a frontal assault to enter the city. Later, Musiienko continues, Russian forces attempted a flanking maneuver to bypass Pokrovsk from the north and south—but that, too, failed, largely thanks to the defense of Selydove. As the expert emphasizes, Ukraine not only managed to halt the enemy's advance but also counterattacked, all due to the effectiveness of maneuver defense tactics.

"The Defense Forces of Ukraine, our position on the frontline, and our capabilities to strike enemy military targets within Russian territory—all of this empowers our diplomats to represent Ukraine from a position of strength. That is what matters most," Musiienko concludes.

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