The U.S. military announced on Friday that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is progressing slowly and will be very difficult, prolonged, and bloody. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley stated in a speech at the National Press Club that the war will not cease until Ukraine is free and sovereign. He added, "The Ukrainian counteroffensive has not met expectations, but we will continue to support Kyiv," noting that it is too early to say whether the Wagner rebellion has weakened the Russian president. He continued, "We have no information on the whereabouts of the Wagner leader or those who participated in the rebellion." He mentioned, "The provision of cluster bombs to Ukraine is under consideration."
An American newspaper reported that the United States and the European Union are pressuring Kyiv to activate its offensive operations on the front lines against Russian armed forces. The newspaper cited private sources stating that the U.S. and Western countries are dissatisfied with the fact that Ukrainian forces are being extremely cautious on the front lines during their counteroffensive, mentioning that Kyiv is hesitating due to weather conditions or other unclear factors. According to the newspaper, the U.S. and several European countries have been urging Ukraine for weeks to move faster on the front lines, as criticisms have been directed at Kyiv for its decreased military activity across various combat sectors.
