Ukraine can “absolutely” win the war against Russia as Moscow continues to fight for key breakthroughs, the Pentagon said.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin “has not achieved zero of his strategic goals” and “really takes control of only a small number of settlements,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
This comes after US officials say at least 24,000 Russian troops have completed their withdrawal from around Kyiv, but fears remain that they are now being re-equipped and supplied in preparation for future deployment in Ukraine.
“The threat of (a) ground invasion (of Kyiv) has apparently disappeared at the moment … but it is not clear what their long-term goals are,” said a U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Troops leaving the region were withdrawing to Belarus and Russia to consolidate, but it was unclear how many would eventually be sent back to Ukraine,” they added.
Russia launches campaign of “mass terror” in the south; big new offensive “probably” in days – Ukraine last
Key events: • The United States says it will boycott “several G20 meetings” if Russian officials are present • More than 5,000 civilians have been killed in Mariupol, the city mayor said • About a thousand people are fleeing Mariupol in a convoy of buses and cars • French president says killing civilians in Bucha “very likely war crimes”
Speaking hours after the United States announced sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s two eldest daughters, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Ukraine’s resistance remained strong.
“Of course [Ukraine] he can win that, “he said.
“If you look at what they have managed to do so far, Mr Putin has achieved exactly zero of his strategic goals in Ukraine.
“He did not take Kyiv, he did not overthrow the government, he did not remove Ukraine as a nation state.
Image: The town of Borodyanka, near Kyiv, continues to be shelled by Russian shelling. Photo: AP
“He really took control of only a small number of settlements and even they are not the ones he persecuted.
“The proof is literally in the results you see every day,” Mr Kirby added.
“Absolutely [Ukraine] he can win. “
Image: Sky’s Mark Austin will interview Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov tonight
Russia is affected by new sanctions
In addition to sanctioning Putin’s two daughters, the United States has tightened sanctions against Russian banks and banned new US investments in Russia on Wednesday.
In tandem, the United Kingdom imposed a freeze on the assets of Russia’s largest bank, imposed sanctions on eight other oligarchs and promised to suspend imports of Russian oil and coal by the end of the year.
The EU had planned to announce a coal embargo and a ban on Russian ships and road operators, but diplomats failed to approve the measures on Wednesday, as technical problems have to be resolved.
Image: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Western leaders to ban the import of Russian oil “quickly and in principle.” Photo: AP
Zelenski urges Western leaders to “take a little determination”
In his evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the set of new sanctions was “spectacular but not enough”.
While welcoming the crackdown on Russian banks, he said he would not rest until there was a “complete blockade of Russia’s banking system by international finance”.
Image: Bodies in Bucha were identified before being sent to the morgue. Photo: AP
And he called for faster action on the EU oil embargo, whose leaders have yet to reach an agreement.
Germany is said to be opposed to the outright ban, as it relies heavily on oil imports from Russia.
Hungary, meanwhile, has said it is ready to break with the rest of the EU and agree to Russia’s demand to pay for its gas in rubles.
“Some politicians are still unable to decide how to limit the flow of dollars and euros to Russia from the oil trade so as not to endanger their own economies,” Zelensky said.
Image: A family passes destroyed Russian tanks in the town of Bucha. Photo: AP
“But that’s why people go into politics. To solve such problems difficult tasks. To solve them quickly and in principle. If you are not capable, you should not have started political activity.
“The embargo on Russian oil supplies will be implemented anyway. The format will be found.
“The only question is how many more Ukrainian men and women the Russian military will have time to kill, so that you, some politicians – and we know you – can take a little determination from somewhere.
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