The retention of the strategic cities of Donetsk region — Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad — by Ukrainian forces, as well as the counteroffensive actions in the Kupiansk area of Kharkiv region, have become crucial factors for further support for Ukraine from Western partners. These actions enable the Ukrainian army to effectively deter the advance of the Russian Federation and to anticipate new tranches of international assistance.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Viktor Muzhenko’s Position on Defending Key Cities
According to Viktor Muzhenko, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019, the successful defense of Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and the counteroffensive in Kupiansk contributed to strengthening trust in the capabilities of the Ukrainian army among allies. He is convinced that these events significantly influenced the European Union’s decision to allocate substantial financial support to Ukraine.
“Recently, the ‘coalition of the willing and resolute’ made a decision to allocate relevant funds from the European Union for Ukraine. If we had surrendered Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, and there had been no operation to liberate Kupiansk, the debates would probably still be ongoing. There would have been no trust in Ukraine, in the Ukrainian army, in its ability to deter the enemy. I think this also played a certain role,” Muzhenko believes.
EU Support and the Situation on the Front
Earlier, the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are effectively blocking the advance of Russian troops in the center of Pokrovsk. This allows for the preservation of strategic positions and demonstrates readiness for further struggle against the invader.
On the night of December 19, the leaders of the European Union made a decision to provide Ukraine with a loan of 90 billion euros for the next two years. This financial support is backed by the EU budget and represents a significant contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities in its confrontation with the Russian Federation.