The top US general said on Wednesday night that Russia has suffered more than 100,000 soldiers killed and wounded as a result of the war in Ukraine – and Ukraine is probably looking at similar numbers.
Coalition Chairman General Mark Milley, speaking at an event at the Economic Club of New York, called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “huge strategic mistake” that the country would pay for. “for years and years to come.”
The war that began in February has caused countless human suffering, including between 15 million and 30 million refugees and about 40,000 Ukrainian civilians killed, Milley said.
“You’re looking at more than 100,000 Russian soldiers killed and wounded,” Milley said. “The same is probably on the Ukrainian side.”
Road to peace: Milley said there could be an opportunity to negotiate an end to the conflict if and when the front line stabilizes over the winter.
“When there is an opportunity to negotiate, when peace can be achieved, seize it,” Milley said. “Seize the opportunity.”
But if negotiations never materialize or fail, Milley said the United States will continue to arm Ukraine, even as outright military victory for both sides seems increasingly unlikely.
“There needs to be mutual recognition that possible military victory in the true sense of the word may not be achieved through military means, and therefore you need to turn to other means,” he said. .
Kherson Withdrawal: Milley also said the US is seeing early signs that Russia is indeed withdrawing from Kherson, as it has claimed. However, he said the withdrawal of up to 30,000 Russian troops from the west bank of the Dnipro could take days or even weeks.
“I believe they’re doing it to preserve the force, re-establish the defenses south of the river, but that remains to be seen,” Milley said. “Right now the early indicators are doing what they say they are and we are seeing those early indicators.”
