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00:00 As battles grind on in the east of the country, soldiers prepare for a counter-offensive.
00:06 "At the beginning of the war, we were engaged in covert defence.
00:12 Our task was to contain the enemy.
00:15 But now we need to go on the counter-offensive.
00:18 We need to win back what was taken from us."
00:23 Before that, though, President Zelensky's mission is a diplomatic one - secure the supplies
00:27 to make the counter-offensive a success.
00:30 On Wednesday, the US announced a new military aid package worth $325 million, including
00:36 artillery systems and small arms ammunitions.
00:39 This after a Pentagon leak earlier in the month showed fears of a looming missile shortage
00:43 for air defence systems - essential if Ukraine is to see off bombing and protect its troops
00:48 during a counter-offensive.
00:52 The West was initially reluctant to send tanks, but they have now been promised in their hundreds
00:57 and the first shipment of the much-heralded Patriot air defence system arrived this week.
01:01 Kiev's focus now is on long-range rockets and fighter jets.
01:06 "Delaying over this kind of decision is delaying peace.
01:10 It's throwing away the lives of our fighters, who still don't have the vital tools to defend
01:15 themselves in the necessary amounts."
01:19 Poland and Slovakia have sent warplanes, but Soviet-era ones, not the advanced Western
01:24 ones Ukraine is asking for.
01:26 Many allies fear, though, that such a move would escalate the war rather than hastening
01:30 its end.
01:32 Ukraine's call for military aid has come in stages, gradually escalating as the conflict
01:36 has worn on.
01:37 Representatives from 50 allied states are meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on
01:41 Wednesday to coordinate military support.
01:44 which feels right that we're --