Zelenskyy: Ukraine Gears Up for Impending Russian Offensive

Reports indicate that Ukraine is making preparations for a significant Russian offensive expected to take place in the upcoming months, possibly before the start of summer, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy stressed the importance of foreign aid being utilized for tangible weapon systems, particularly essential long-range artillery, in order to bolster Ukraine's chances of success. These comments were made following the approval of a $60.8 billion aid bill for Ukraine by the House, which is now awaiting approval from the Senate and President Biden.

During a separate interview on "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed his hope that the U.S. will be able to promptly dispatch aid shipments, including the longer-range ATACMS. Warner informed "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan that shipments should be expedited once the congressional aid package receives approval from the Senate and reaches President Biden, likely on Tuesday or Wednesday.

"I hope once the President signs ... that these materials will be in transit by the end of the week," said Warner. "It's clearly been the case that the Ukrainians morale has been great, but it's been undermined over the last couple of months, when they have been literally given out rationed bullets, eight to 10 bullets a day. And on artillery shells — Russians 10 to one — you can't underestimate that Ukrainians' grit, determination. But if they don't have the materials, they can't carry this fight to the Russians." 

Zelenskyy told "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker that being adequately prepared means having the weapons and equipment needed to fight back against the impending "full-scale" attack, and receiving those supplies before it happens.

"We are preparing. The personnel is preparing. The soldiers are engaged in training," he said in translated remarks during the "Meet the Press" interview. "And I don't want to repeat myself, but we are waiting for the weapon systems because we want to have the brigade fully equipped. Some of them are exhausted. We need to replace them. But these new brigades, they have to have the equipment."

Ukrainian troops managed to stave off Russian advancements through the winter but struggled to contend with Russia's seemingly limitless stock of missiles and shells, which have decimated some places and allowed for growing occupation in the East. 

In a recent interview conducted a few weeks ago in a secret, war-torn structure in the far-eastern region of Ukraine, Zelenskyy conveyed to a CBS News team that his country's intelligence officials were expecting another significant attack from Russian forces in June, or possibly even earlier, towards the end of May. During that time, he urged for assistance from Ukraine's allies, including the United States, to aid in the country's defense.

"And before that, we not only need to prepare, we not only need to stabilize the situation, because the partners are sometimes really happy that we have stabilized the situation," Zelenskyy emphasized. "No, I say we need help now."

Zelenskyy revealed to Welker on Sunday's "Meet the Press" that the Kremlin is planning to mobilize 300,000 troops by June 1. However, he mentioned that Russia is aiming to capture the eastern city of Chasiv Yar much sooner, by May 9. Situated near the occupied city of Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar is currently under Ukrainian control but has faced severe damage from Russian attacks in recent months and is at risk of falling, prompting urgent pleas for reinforcement from the stationed troops.

"I visited the region recently. I talked to the soldiers. The soldiers say that they lack equipment," Zelenskyy stated on Sunday. "They need to combat Russian reconnaissance drones, which essentially guide the artillery. And we need artillery shells. I hope we will be able to stay, and the weapons will come on time, and we will repel the enemy and then we'll thwart the plans of the Russian Federation concerning this full-scale offensive."