Ukraine Prepares for Counteroffensive Against Russia, Says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Ukraine could launch a counteroffensive against Russia, as the war in the country enters its fifth month.

"The Ukrainians have the capacity to launch a counteroffensive," Blinken said in an interview with CNN. "They have already begun to do so in some places."

Blinken's comments come as Russia has been struggling to make significant gains in Ukraine in recent weeks. The Ukrainian military has been able to repel Russian advances in some areas, and has even launched some successful counterattacks.

"The Ukrainians are very clear-eyed about the challenges they face," Blinken said. "But they also believe that they can win this war."

Blinken's comments were echoed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said on Saturday that his country is "preparing for a counteroffensive."

"We are preparing for a counteroffensive," Zelenskyy said in a video address. "We will not give up our land."

The possibility of a Ukrainian counteroffensive has raised concerns in Russia, where officials have warned that such a move could lead to a wider war.

"If Ukraine launches a counteroffensive, it will be a very dangerous step," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week. "It could lead to a third world war."

It is unclear when a Ukrainian counteroffensive might begin, or how successful it would be. However, Blinken's comments suggest that the United States believes that Ukraine has the potential to turn the tide of the war.