US Chief of Staff: Ukrainian counterattack slower than expected

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, General Mark Milley estimated that the attack launched by Kiev against the Russian army in Ukraine “did not fail.”

The Ukrainian counteroffensive “has not failed,” but the road to a decisive victory for Kiev in the conflict remains very long, US Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

Ukraine launched a counter-offensive in June to reclaim territory occupied by Russia after obtaining Western weapons and training new brigades.

The American general said in an interview with CNN: “I know that some observers say that this attack has failed. It has not failed.”

Zelensky Thursday at the White House

He added, “This attack, although slow and slower than expected, has remained steady,” stressing that the Ukrainians still have a “significant striking force.”

However, the general acknowledged that it would “take a long time” to achieve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s goal of “expelling all Russians” from the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be welcomed to the White House on Thursday for new talks with President Joe Biden about supporting Kiev against the Russian invasion.

This trip comes at a time when the US Congress is discussing a new envelope worth $24 billion in military aid to Kiev. Volodymyr Zelensky should also go to the Capitol to meet with Republican and Democratic leadership.