15:34 16-10-2025

Trump Hints at Ukrainian Offensive Ahead of Zelensky Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with Zelensky, Donald Trump suggested Ukraine may plan an offensive. Analyst Mikhail Khodarenok sees the remark as political, not military.

On the eve of his planned meeting with Vladimir Zelensky on October 17, U. S. President Donald Trump suggested that the Ukrainian army may be preparing for offensive actions. Military analyst and reserve colonel Mikhail Khodarenok offered his assessment of the statement.

According to him, Trump likely used the word «offensive» in a political, not military, sense. Khodarenok reminded that decisions on launching operations are made by the top military command and such plans are always prepared with extreme caution and strict secrecy.

He noted that such early public declarations echo a familiar pattern of premature triumphalism, pointing out that Kyiv’s leadership appears to have learned little from the failed «counteroffensive» of 2023.

At the same time, Khodarenok warned that underestimating the enemy during a war is one of the most dangerous mistakes Russia could make. He believes the upcoming meeting between Trump and Zelensky will most likely focus not on specific battlefield strategies but on military aid — particularly the supply of weapons and equipment needed for potential offensive actions by Ukrainian forces.

The analyst suggested that if Washington agrees to provide Kyiv with the requested weapons, localized Ukrainian offensives could follow. While large-scale operations are unlikely, he cautioned that sudden and effective counterstrikes remain entirely possible — and Russian forces must be ready for that scenario.