Ukrainian counter-offensive 'far from a failure' — Mark Milley

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army has said that Ukraine is continuing its counter-offensive "steadily and resolutely".

He said this at a joint briefing with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.

"There is a difference between a war on paper and a real war. It's real people in real machines clearing real minefields, and they're really dying. So when that happens, units tend to slow down. The Ukrainians are paving the way," said Mark Milley.

Milley also said that the members of the Contact Group for the Defence of Ukraine have trained 17 Ukrainian combat brigades for future counter-offensives.

He added that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have not yet used all their combat capabilities.

"That will be Ukraine's decision, where and when they will commit their reserves. Right now, they are preserving their combat power, and they are slowly and deliberately and steadily working their way through all these minefields," said Mark Milley.

Photo: AP