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Ukraine is expected to continue its counter-attack on Russian forces through the coming winter months, according to United States defense secretary Lloyd Austin. The prediction comes as countries are announcing deliveries of air defense systems and pledging more aid.
During the gathering of over 50 countries providing military assistance to Ukraine at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Austin said he expects Ukraine to continue its advances to reclaim areas occupied by Russian forces in the coming winter months.
“I expect that Ukraine will continue to do everything it can throughout the winter, to regain its territory and to be effective on the battlefield,” said Austin during a news conference. “And we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that they have what’s required to be effective.”
A senior US official said there was strong support to help Ukrainian forces advance in the coming winter months, such as providing winter clothing. The official said that Russian forces, at this point, are “isolated and alone.”
Austin opened the two-day NATO gathering by condemning the latest air strikes by Russia on civilian targets in Ukraine. The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, said the strikes were equivalent to war crimes under the international rules of war.
“Russia has deliberately struck civilian infrastructure with the purpose of harming civilians,” said Milley. “They have targeted the elderly, the women, and the children of Ukraine. Indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on civilian targets is a war crime in the international rules of war.”
The air strikes that took place on Monday killed 19 people and wounded around 100 others.
Leaders of the G7 countries have also assured Ukrainian officials that they plan to continue providing more support for Ukraine, according to German finance minister Christian Lindner. Linder told a news conference in Washington that Ukraine’s reconstruction will need financial support from not only the G7 countries but also from international financial institutions.
Lindner said the existing pledges covered Ukraine’s financial needs this year, and there is time to put together resources for Ukraine in 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told donors Wednesday that Ukraine needs $55 billion in external support for 2023 to cover budget needs and to rebuild critical infrastructure such as schools.
