The US has predicted when Ukraine will liberate Crimea and Donbass

With the availability of long-range missiles, Ukraine may liberate the Russian-occupied Crimea by the end of the summer and Donbas by next year or even earlier, former US commander in Europe General Ben Hodges has said, Ukrinform has reported.

He also noted that the allies were doing everything possible to hasten Kiev's victory. It is about weapons and ammunition. Hodges stressed that to liberate the territories occupied by the Russians, high-precision, long-range weapons were needed.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces should be able to shoot at 150-300 kilometres and make sure that the missile hits exactly the target, then the Russian Black Sea Fleet will simply have to leave the peninsula," the general said.

While sharing priorities, Hodges said that the liberation of Crimea would be "decisive" in the battle, at the same time noting that the liberation of military regions was "important".

He explained that the peninsula was a strategic location and Ukraine could not be safe as long as it was occupied by the enemy. The general also pointed out that the occupation of Crimea casts doubt on the full use of the ports of Odessa and Mariupol after its liberation.

We must help Ukraine to return Crimea. This year. We want this to happen and we must give everything we need," he added.

The general also noted that in addition to receiving weapons on time, properly calibrated command decisions can help Ukraine bring the day of victory closer.