Ukrainian president says counteroffensive won’t aim to attack Russian territory

By FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country’s planned counteroffensive is designed to liberate areas occupied by Russia, not to attack Russian territory. Speaking at a news conference Sunday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s goal is to free the territories within its internationally recognized borders. Zelenskyy was welcomed with military honors by Scholz on his first visit to Germany since Russia invaded Ukraine. Zelenskyy is holding talks with German leaders about further arms deliveries to help his country fend off the Russian invasion and rebuild what’s been destroyed by more than a year of devastating conflict. Scholz told Zelenskyy that Germany will support Ukraine “for as long as necessary.”