The administration of US President Joe Biden believes that Ukraine has the necessary military potential to return the Russian-occupied Crimea. This opinion was voiced by an administration official in Congress, according to NBC News..

The conversation took place during a discussion of Ukraine's needs for American weapons and equipment.. Answering the question whether Ukraine will try to return Crimea, the official noted that although the corresponding operation is not planned in the near future, our country now has the opportunity to do so..

The possible reaction of Russia to Ukraine's attempts to return its own territory causes concern among the US presidential administration. US officials believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin may feel cornered and decide to use nuclear weapons.

“Putin may react more harshly to Crimea. This is a red line,” the interlocutors of journalists say..

In any case, the struggle for Crimea will be difficult and bloody for both sides, experts say. Now the northern approaches to the peninsula are protected by about 70 thousand dug-in military. Ukraine does not yet have enough airborne or navy forces that could carry out effective attacks against entrenched forces.

Complicates the operation and the geography of the peninsula, separated from the mainland by a narrow isthmus. But the advancement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the south and east would allow even more accurate strikes against the invaders.

“U.S. officials admit that Ukraine took a number of “escalatory actions” against Russia without informing the United States or other allies about it.. Although Ukraine makes its decisions on the battlefield, the White House is confident that Kyiv would not launch such a large-scale operation as the return of Crimea without informing the United States in advance,” officials say..

The publication notes that Ukraine has demonstrated ingenuity and courage in the fight against a larger and better armed army and quickly integrated weapons systems provided by NATO.. “Ukrainians continue to shock the world with how well they perform on the battlefield,” said a US official..

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According to the former commander of the US Army in Europe, Ben Hodges, already in mid-2023, the Ukrainian army could enter the territory of the occupied Crimea.

In turn, Lina Fix, an employee of the Council on Foreign Relations analytical center, and Michael Kimmage, a professor of history at the Catholic University of America, who previously worked at the US State Department, believe that Ukraine has reasons not to rush to liberate Crimea.. They admit that the battle for the peninsula is quite possible. But there are at least three challenges that should make Kyiv postpone this operation..