Ukrainian Commander Meets With U.S., U.K. Military Leaders As Russia Maintains Pressure On Avdiyivka

Ukrainian Commander in Chief Valeriy Zaluzhniy (file photo)

Ukrainian Commander in Chief Valeriy Zaluzhniy on October 26 discussed the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine as well as the Ukrainian military's equipment requirements during a meeting with the commander of U.S. forces in Europe and the chief of the British Defense Staff.

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Zaluzhniy met with U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli and Royal Navy Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Ukrainian commander said on Telegram. Zaluzhniy did not say where the meeting took place, but Zaluzhniy posted a video of the meeting along with his message.

They spoke in detail about the situation on the battlefield, Ukraine's offensive and defensive operations, the situation in the most difficult areas, and the probable actions plans of Russian forces, Zaluzhniy said.

In addition, the conversation concerned the needs of Ukrainian forces in ammunition, drones, and military equipment, he said.

"We separately discussed the key issues of strengthening our air defense and covering critical infrastructure facilities in the autumn-winter period," Zaluzhniy noted.

The meeting came amid sporadic intense fighting in the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiyivka, which has largely been turned to rubble by Russian bombing, and surrounding areas of the Donetsk region.

Kyiv's troops have repelled as many as 15 attacks by Russian forces in and around Avdiyivka in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian armed forces said early on October 26.

Avdiyivka has been the site of Moscow’s largest offensive in the war in months, and some analysts say Ukraine's supply lines have been whittled down to a narrow corridor, but Russian forces are also reportedly struggling with supplies.

Oleh Kalashnikov, press officer for Ukraine's 26th Artillery Brigade, told RFE/RL that the Russian military has a noticeable shortage of shells but continues to fight in the Bakhmut area.

"Indeed, the enemy really also has problems with shells. But he has plenty of them in our Bakhmut area. That is, the artillery shelling of our positions is continuous. Here he does not spare them," said Kalashnikov, speaking from the Bakhmut area. The most active fighting in the Bakhmut area currently is south of the city, he said.

He also emphasized that hostilities will not stop during the winter because this would give the Russian Army an opportunity to seize the initiative at the front line.

"The fighting will continue. We also heard last year that the fighting may stop for the winter, [that] there may be a pause -- there will be no pause," he said. "We will liberate our territory in any weather conditions at any time of the year."

Meanwhile, Kyiv is watching a European Union summit in Brussels where the 27-nation bloc is expected to reiterate its condemnation of Russia’s war and support for Ukraine amid fears of donor fatigue among some members.

With the the war now in its 21st month, European Union leaders are expected to reaffirm their support for “Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity” and “its inherent right of self-defense,” according to the draft conclusions of the summit, seen by RFE/RL.

The document, which is not final and must still be approved by EU leaders, will also reaffirm the bloc’s intention to continue to provide “strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes.”

The draft conclusions will also call for “further strengthening sanctions” against Russia over its aggression and will call on the European Commission to “accelerate work” on propositions on how revenues stemming directly from Russia’s immobilized assets could be directed to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction.

With reporting by Reuters