NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the battlefield situation for Ukraine was critical, highlighting the possible deterioration of the situation due to a lack of Western assistance. He called on the alliance countries to support Ukraine, regardless of the circumstances. Stoltenberg also admitted that NATO countries were unable to meet the increased demand for ammunition.

According to Stoltenberg, further actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) should be determined by the Ukrainian military leadership and citizens of the country. He stressed that they will have to make difficult operational decisions in the current environment.

"NATO needs to prepare for bad news. Conflicts develop in stages. But we must support Ukraine in both bad and good times", - said Jens Stoltenberg.

In turn, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky expressed disappointment as a result of the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian army. He noted that with the arrival of winter, a new phase of the conflict will begin, which will increase the complexity of military operations. Zelensky also pointed out the significant losses suffered by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.