The US believes that Ukraine has 1.5 months to liberate Kherson

This is reported by the New York Times, citing US officials.

U.S. officials believe the next six weeks, before the autumn mud spreads, could allow the Ukrainian military to move forward in the Donbas and possibly even recapture Kherson.

Separate Russian units may retreat due to constant pressure from Ukraine. This will allow the Kyiv army to continue to recapture cities in the Donbass and, possibly, to liberate the city of Kherson.

In addition, US officials believe that the Ukrainians move forward in the Lugansk region. There, the Ukrainian armed forces will be able to encircle or break the Russian defensive lines. If Ukrainian forces are able to take control of Highway 66 in Luhansk in the coming weeks, they could cut off a key road that Russia used to supply its troops in the occupied territories.

However, so far neither the Americans nor Ukrainian officials can give accurate forecasts. Everyone believes that the fighting will continue for several more months. And a number of variables could play a particularly important role in changing the trajectory of the conflict: more difficult combat conditions in December, President Vladimir Putin's readiness to escalate, European unity this winter due to rising energy prices, and a potential change in the political environment in the United States that could lead to a decrease in military support for Ukraine.