Relations between Ukraine and Western partners are not endangered by the publication of the documents. “They are normal analyses,” said Podoljak. Also, plans for a Ukrainian counter-offensive are not falling into the water, as they are still being worked on, he said. A source close to President Zelensky had previously told CNN that Ukraine had already partly adjusted its military plans because of the leaked documents.
Earlier reports had revealed that the US Department of Defense had classified documents showing that Zelensky had suggested drone strikes against Russian military sites in the Rostov region during a meeting with military officials in February. That would have resulted in Washington not wanting to provide Kiev with long-range weapons.
“It makes no sense to say in an abstract way ‘let’s bomb the Rostov region’,” Podoljak said. Such consultations are more likely to set priorities and determine strategies, he said. Podoljak also added that the information about the Ukrainian air defense problems was already known.