The Ukrainian counter-offensive is progressing slower than expected, but it is gradually moving forward, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley. At the same time, he added that it was similar to the Allied landing in Normandy, which was successful.
“War on paper and real war are two different things. In a real war, people die. Real people are in these vehicles, real bodies are torn apart by explosives. So if the computer tells you it’s going to go fast, a real war might slow it down a bit. So it doesn’t surprise me if it (offensive) goes slower than people expected,” Milley said during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington. He added that he himself predicted that the offensive would last “6-8-10 weeks”, that it would be very difficult and “very, very bloody”. He compared it to the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944.
“We predicted that we would meet the objectives of the attack on the first day and then that we would be in Paris in 30-40 days. It took us 90 days,” he noted. Milley added that despite the delays, the Ukrainian troops are advancing gradually but steadily, 500-1,000 meters a day.
The general pointed out that Ukraine’s victory is important in order to maintain order and peace created as a result of the end of World War II.
“If you believe that a rules-based world order matters, that the end of World War II matters, that avoiding a war of great powers matters (…), then to make this visible to the world, it is important that Ukraine remains free, independent, sovereign and with intact territory,” said Milley.
He also refused to give an unequivocal answer to the question of whether the Wagner Group rebellion had weakened Putin’s position inside Russia, adding that there was no definitive evidence to say so. He added, however, that there are some signs of social dissatisfaction, such as the escape of young Russians from conscription or internal divisions in the army.
“Ultimately, it is a matter of domestic Russian politics and we will not do anything about it, but we certainly want to know the answer to this question. There are good arguments for both, Milley concluded.
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