With the Russian-Ukrainian conflict entering its ninth month, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, General Mark Milley, has confirmed that Russia has suffered heavy losses.
He told the “New York Economic Club” that the Russian military has suffered estimated human losses in more than 100,000 soldiers who were killed or wounded in Ukraine, noting that the Ukrainian military “likely” suffered a similar level of casualties during the war, Reuters reported.
40,000 Ukrainian civilians killed
He also pointed out that there is a lot of human suffering, adding that probably 40,000 Ukrainian civilians were also killed in the conflict.
He also noted that the conflict has so far transformed between 15 and 30 million Ukrainians in refugees.
Asked about the prospects for diplomacy and negotiation, he said: “The early refusal to negotiate in World War I exacerbated human suffering and claimed millions of lives.
Take the opportunity to negotiate
And he added: “Therefore, when there is an opportunity to negotiate and when it is possible the pace … the opportunity must be seized “.
As for the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, he explained that the prime indications indicate that Russia is moving forward with the withdrawal from Kherson, but has warned that it may take some time.
“It won’t take a day or two, but it will take days and maybe weeks to withdraw those forces south of that river,” he said, estimating that Russia will have between 20,000 and 30,000 troops north of the Dnipro River. in that area.
Interestingly, Milley’s statements about the casualties provide the highest American estimate of the number of casualties so far in the conflict which has continued for nearly nine months, and arrives in one moment in which Kiev and Moscow are facing a possible lull in fighting over the winter, which may offer an opportunity to sit down at the negotiating table, as is likely.
Cherson … and winter
In particular, some experts say that Moscow’s setback in Kherson could allow Kiev to negotiate from a position of strength, while others believe that Russia could use the negotiations to buy time to regroup and equip its forces for a new offensive in spring.
Interestingly, Russia announced yesterday Wednesday that its forces would withdraw from the western bank of the Dnipro River near the strategic city of Kherson, which represents a serious setback and a possible turning point for Russia. war!
Read More About: World News