![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/Ukraine-4952633.jpg?r=1694366086882\")
<\/p>\n
The top general added: “Then you’ll get the deep winter and then at that point we’ll see where things go.”<\/p>\n
Temperatures regularly plummet to minus figures in the winter, making conditions fighting conditions much harder to predict.<\/p>\n
Gen. Milley, who is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added it was “way too early” to determine whether Ukraine’s counter-offensive has “failed or not failed”.<\/p>\n
He said: “There’s still heavy fighting going on. The Ukrainians are still plugging away with steady progress through the various defensive elements that the Russians have put in place.”<\/p>\n
Ukraine is three months into its counter-offensive and has so far made modest progress along its southern axis in the Zaporizhia region.<\/p>\n
The aim in this southern region is to sever Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s land bridge linking Russia to Crimea, which was illegally annexed in 2014.<\/p>\n
Some allies of Ukraine have seen its struggle to retain ground faster as a reason to bring Kyiv to the negotiating table with Moscow while others have signalled in public they intend to stay the course.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/War-4952635.jpg?r=1694366086922\")
<\/p>\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with The Economist, said: “If you are not with Ukraine, you are with Russia, and if you are not with Russia, you are with Ukraine. And if partners do not help us, it means they will help Russia to win. That is it.”<\/p>\n
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Britain’s Chief of the Defence Staff, told the BBC that Ukraine is “winning” because Russia has failed to bring the country under its control.<\/p>\n
He said: “That is because the aim of Russia was to subjugate Ukraine and to put it under Russia’s control.<\/p>\n
“That has not happened and it never will happen, and that’s why Ukraine is winning.”<\/p>\n
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Sir Tony’s upbeat assessment comes amid debate over whether war fatigue may set in across the West as the war in Ukraine drags on.<\/p>\n There are also concerns over whether US support for Kyiv could undergo a major pivot if former US president Donald Trump wins the next election in November 2024.<\/p>\n Western officials argue that the war has so far been a “catastrophic failure” for Putin and Ukrainian progress cannot simply be measured in metres gained on the battlefield.<\/p>\n But officials acknowledged the pace of the counter-offensive has fallen short of western expectations.<\/p>\n Despite this, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited Ukraine this week in an unannounced trip aimed to show confidence in Kyiv\u2019s forces.<\/p>\n Mr Blinken said during the visit: “We want to make sure Ukraine has what it needs, not only to succeed in the counteroffensive but has what it needs for the long-term, to make sure that it has a strong deterrent.<\/p>\n “We\u2019re also determined to continue to work with our partners as they build and rebuild a strong economy, strong democracy.”<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Ukrainian army representatives have today (September 10) reported further small gains near Robotyne in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, days after Russian-installed authorities acknowledged Russian forces had left the village.<\/p>\n Oleksandr Shtupun, a press officer for Ukraine\u2019s Tauride Defence Forces, said on Ukrainian TV that Kyiv\u2019s troops had retaken a further 0.6 square miles (1.5 square kilometers) near Rabotyne and that heavy fighting is ongoing.<\/p>\n He said: “The Russians are clinging to every meter of our Ukrainian land\u2026 However, the Ukrainian Defence Forces are trying to make it as difficult as possible to supply the Russian army, and in certain areas this is bearing fruit.”<\/p>\n
Alastair Stewart ‘reduced to tears’ as he opens up on dementia diagnosis[REPORT] <\/strong>
Daniel Khalife’s one big error within minutes of escaping which gave police lead[REVEALED] <\/strong>
Prince Harry left red-faced after dismally losing penalty shoot out live on TV[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/War-4952638.jpg?r=1694366086964\")
<\/p>\n