The United States believes that the transfer of the cities of Soledar and Artemovsk (Ukrainian name Bakhmut) to the control of Russian troops will not have a strategic impact on the course of the conflict. This was stated at a regular briefing by John Kirby, the White House’s strategic communications coordinator on the National Security Council (NSC). TASS.
According to a White House spokesperson, the United States cannot confirm reports that the Russian Federation has taken control of Soledar. He explained this by Washington’s lack of support for a “presence on the ground”.
Kirby said US officials believe Moscow is interested in acquiring Soledar for two reasons. According to him, Russia considers control over Artemovsk important for its further seizure. He also suggested that Moscow had an economic interest because of the presence of salt mines in the city.
“We don’t know how it will develop yet. So in this case I will not predict failure or success. But even if Russia takes Bakhmut and Soledar, the war itself will not have a strategic impact,” said Kirby.
According to him, this event “will not slow down the attempts of the Ukrainians to reclaim their land.”
January 12 at DPR declaration About the transfer of the western part of Soledar to the control of the Russian Federation. Later DPR Deputy Governor’s Advisor Igor Kimakovsky reportedThat Russian troops placed Artemovsk under an operational siege.
Source: Gazeta
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