UK defense chief: Russia lost more troops than it recruited for four straight months
Russia has lost more troops than it recruited in its war against Ukraine for four consecutive months, UK Defense Secretary John Healey has said.
Speaking at a press conference after the 34th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format in Berlin, Healey said Putin wanted the world to believe his forces had built unstoppable momentum on the battlefield, but in reality Russia had been losing more troops than it recruited for four straight months. He added that Putin also wanted the world to think Ukrainians had no choice but to give in, whereas it was Ukrainian forces that had been carrying out successful counterattacks across the frontline in recent weeks.
At the same time, Healey said Kremlin leader Putin wanted those supporting Ukraine to become tired or distracted.
Healey said the truth was that support for Ukraine remained unwavering and that the meeting demonstrated allies would stand by Ukraine. He said they would continue supporting Ukraine, keep pressuring Putin and help secure a lasting peace.
