The Russian occupiers have not yet launched a major offensive in Ukraine, but with the onset of spring, hostilities may intensify. This was stated by John Kirby, the coordinator of the National Security Council of the White House for strategic communications, at a briefing.
Preparations for an escalation of the war are one of the reasons why the United States and other countries have been providing Ukraine with military aid packages in recent weeks, Kirby added.
"These are opportunities that allow the Armed Forces to fight in open terrain. Aid includes armored arsenals and artillery. All this is needed to prepare for what the Russians can plan for spring," said the coordinator of the Council.
He noted that Vladimir Putin is trying to use the winter to restock, rearm and resume offensive operations in the spring.
"We believe he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] will try to use the winter months to resupply, rearm the military and resume attacks in the spring," a White House official said.
The occupiers continue to advance in the Donbas region, and the fighting around Bakhmut remains fierce.
At the briefing, Kirby drew attention to the last massive missile attack on Ukraine on February 10.
"As we have seen in the last 12 hours, he [Putin] is ready to continue firing cruise missiles at Ukraine, disabling civilian infrastructure and trying to make life difficult for Ukrainians," he concluded.
